The Quinnipiac Bobcats are scheduled to play the UMass Minutemen in a non-conference baseball game on March 31 at Earl Lorden Field in Amherst, Massachusetts. The game is set for a 3:00 PM start.
This matchup offers both teams an opportunity to compete outside their respective conferences as they progress through the season. For Quinnipiac, it is a chance to build on recent success, while UMass seeks improvement after recent setbacks.
Quinnipiac comes into the contest with an overall record of 11-14 and stands at 5-4 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play. The Bobcats recently swept Saint Peter’s Peacocks in Jersey City, highlighted by strong performances from Peyton Vancas and Andrew Rubayo. Vancas recorded four runs batted in during the series opener, while Rubayo earned his third win of the season with ten strikeouts over more than five innings pitched. Christian Smith contributed two runs batted in during a decisive eighth inning of the series finale.
The upcoming game marks the eighteenth meeting between Quinnipiac and UMass since their first encounter on March 9, 2002. UMass currently leads the all-time series with nine wins, seven losses, and one tie. Their most recent meeting ended in a tie last season after ten innings due to darkness.
UMass enters this matchup holding a record of five wins and fourteen losses overall, including one win against eleven defeats within conference play. Anthony Tirado leads UMass hitters with a .359 batting average across nineteen starts this season and has accumulated twenty-eight hits along with thirteen runs batted in. On the mound, Callen Powers leads Minutemen pitchers with an earned run average of 4.17 over thirty-six innings pitched.
For Quinnipiac’s roster leaders among qualified players this year: Caden Williamson tops batting average (.316), runs (21), and hits (31); Christian Smith leads doubles (10) and shares home run honors; Alex Irizarry has eighteen RBIs; Andrew Rubayo holds team bests for ERA (4.33), WHIP (1.27), wins (3), innings pitched (35.1), and strikeouts (35). Matt Alduino has three saves so far this season.
In preseason projections, Quinnipiac was picked to finish third in its conference poll following last year’s semifinal appearance against Rider Broncs. Christian Smith was named to the Preseason All-MAAC team after hitting .329 last year with fifteen home runs and sixty-seven RBIs.
Looking ahead, Quinnipiac will return home next weekend for a three-game series against Niagara Purple Eagles from April 2 through April 4.
