Needing wins to position itself to reach next month’s Atlantic 10 Tournament, the UMass baseball team got its three-game series with Fordham off to a good start Friday.
UMass turned nine hits into eight runs, which was more than pitcher Ryan Maloney needed in an 8-1 win. He scattered four hits and two walks in seven scoreless innings.
Ryan Lever had two hits, including a solo home run in the third inning. He scored two runs, drove two in and stole a base for the Minutmen (12-19, 5-8 Atlantic 10). Hunter Carey added a solo home run.
The teams play a 1 p.m. doubleheader, Saturday.
Wesleyan 13, Amherst College 5 — Amherst gave up seven runs in the ninth to turn a tight game into a blow out.
Conner Gunn led Amherst (20-9, 6-4 NESCAC) with a two-run single.
Asher Young (Amherst) recorded the final two outs, including one via strikeout, in the ninth for Wesleyan (19-9, 6-4).
Drexel 10, UMass 5 — The Minutemen dropped their fifth straight and finished the 2016 season at 4-9.
Gianni Bianchin, Brendan Hegarty, Jake Lisauskas, Dan Muller and Ben Spencer each had a goal for UMass.
Amherst 2, Wesleyan 1 –—With two outs and two on in a tied bottom of the seventh, freshman Julia Turner’s walk-off single brought home Nicolette Miranda with the winning run for Amherst (22-8, 6-3 NESCAC).