May 1, 2009

Box Score

AMHERST, Mass. - UMass starting pitcher Mitchell Clegg struck out 12 batters over eight innings and surrendered just two hits en route to a 6-0 shutout victory over St. Bonaventure in the opener of a three-game Atlantic 10 series at Earl Lorden Field on Friday.

The Bonnies never got any kind of rhythm on the offensive end as the loss slips them to 21-18 on the season and 7-12 in the A-10. The win puts the Minutemen two games up on the Brown and White in the Conference standings at 9-10.

Most of the Bona base runners came off of four walks issued by Clegg (5-1), as the senior left-hander didn't give up a hit after the third inning. Sophomore Jesse Bosnik had both St. Bonaventure hits in his first two at-bats, including his team-leading 10th double of the season.

Senior Jim Britton got the start on the mound and fell to 6-4 with the loss. Britton, who has earned a decision in 10 of his 11 starts on the year, struck out six batters on the day moving him into a tie for fifth place all-time with 184 in his career. The Erie, Pa. native gave up 10 hits over five innings of work.

Back-to-back RBI singles in the bottom of the first inning gave UMass an early 2-0 lead. The Minutemen tacked on one more in third and two more in the fifth, the last inning of work for Britton.

Freshman Nick Brennen relieved Britton in the sixth and worked the rest of the game. Brennen's longest pitching appearance of his young career lasted three innings and featured two strikeouts.

Game two of the series will begin at noon on Saturday. Originally scheduled to start the opener, freshman Sebastian Bellitto (3-3) will more than likely get the nod tomorrow afternoon. UMass will send sophomore Nick Serino (3-3) to the mound for his sixth start of the season.