Amherst Edges Baseball

AMHERST, Mass. – The Elms College baseball team was outlasted by host Amherst College, 2-1 in six innings due to rain, in a non-conference contest at Memorial Field Tuesday afternoon.

With the win, Amherst improves to 13-11 on the season, while Elms falls to 12-18 overall. Amherst returns to action tomorrow, Wednesday, April 26 when they host Nichols at Memorial Field beginning at 4 p.m.

Registering three quick outs to open the game, the Mammoths took a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first. In the leadoff spot, Harry Roberson '18 ripped a single up the middle before moving over to second on a failed pickoff attempt by the Elms pitcher. Taking to the dish, Yanni Thanopoulos '17 logged the RBI, sending a single to center field to plate Roberson. 

The teams were evenly matched over the next three innings, with both sides displaying solid defense. Ariel Kenney '18 had a highlight reel play in the fourth, stealing a hit from Alex Hoss with a leaping catch on a line drive to left center, before Kyle Planter returned the favor in the bottom half of the inning and made an impressive pick on a ball that was one-hopped to first to send Nick Nardone '19 back to the dugout.

Elms got on the board in the top of the fifth, deadlocking the contest at 1-1 behind a Jordan Zima RBI. Powering a double down the right field line with one out, Stephen Harrison put himself in scoring position before Zima rocketed a clutch single through the right side to send Harrison home. The Blazers loaded the bases and threatened to tally the go-ahead score, however Andrew Ferrero '19 entered the game and Amherst secured the third out on a line drive to short.

Responding immediately, the Mammoths posted what stood as the game-winning run in the bottom of the fifth, as Thanopoulos sent a single passed the diving second basemen to score Ryan Hardin '18 from second after he entered the matchup as a pinch runner and stole second.

Amherst clinched three consecutive outs in the top of the sixth to earn the 2-1 victory as the game was called due to rain.

Finishing 2-for-3 with a game-high two RBI, Thanopoulos led the Mammoth offense, while Roberson, Anthony Spina '17, Kenney, Joe Feldman '18 and Will Murphy '20 each logged one hit for Amherst. 

Harrison led the Blazers at the dish, going 2-for-3 with one run, while Zima, Platner and Tim Gelzinis also notched a hit each on the day. 

Tasked with the start, Zach Horwitz '20 tossed 4.0 innings for Amherst, allowing five hits, no runs and striking out one, before Mike Dow '19 threw 0.2 innings in relief.  Ferrero (3-1) earned the win for the Mammoths, giving up no hits and fanning one in 1.1 innings on the mound.

Cody Fisher (0-2) took the loss for Elms, giving up two earned runs, seven hits and striking out one in 5.0 innings.

BY THE NUMBERS

·         Both sides recorded seven hits, while Elms left nine runners on base and the Mammoths stranded three.

·         Harrison logged the only extra base hits on the day, notching two doubles for the Blazers.

·         With three pitchers seeing action, the Amherst staff combined to allow one earned run and two walks while whiffing three.

Source: (Amherst Athletics)