Spina Homers Twice as Amherst Baseball Downs Framingham State, 6-4

Photo, recap courtesy of Amherst.

Northborough, Mass. - The Amherst College baseball team registered 11 hits, including two home runs by junior Anthony Spina, to down non-conference opponent Framingham State University, 6-4 Tuesday evening at the NE Baseball Complex.

RECORDS
Framingham State (10-29)
Amherst (22-10)

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• Amherst was first to strike, getting on the board in the top of the second as Spina showed off his speed by stealing home to record his seventh steal of the season. The Rams would immediately respond, however, with RJ Gray homering in the leadoff spot to even the score at 1-1. 
• Demonstrating his power two innings later, Spina sent a shot over the left field fence to put the Purple & White up 2-1. Framingham State would once again match Amherst run for run, taking advantage of a fielding error to notch the game at 2-2.
• The Purple & White would regain and keep the lead for good in the top of the sixth, as Spina recorded his second home run of the game over the left field wall to give Amherst a 4-2 edge. 
• The Rams would cross the plate two more times in the matchup, however clutch RBI's by Yanni Thanopoulos '17 and Max Steinhorn '18 would lift Amherst to the 6-4 win.
• Ryan Connelly paced the Framingham State offense, going 2-for-3 with a run and RBI, while Gray finished 1-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored. 
• Recording a game-high four hits, Spina led the Amherst offense, finishing 4-for-5 with three runs and three RBI's. Dave Cunningham '16 was the only other multi-hit getter for the Purple & White, going 2-for-5 with a run.  
• One of eight Rams pitchers to appear in the matchup, Al Wallach took the loss, giving up two runs on two hits in 0.2 innings. 
• Tabbed with the start, George Long '17 (3-1) earned the win for Amherst, giving up four hits and three runs while striking out five in 5.1 innings on the mound. Junior Mike Castiglie tossed 0.2 innings in relief for the Purple & White, allowing two hits and a run, while first-year Andrew Ferrero earned his third save of the year, tossing a hitless and runless final three innings while fanning four. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Amherst outhit the Rams, 11-6.
• The Purple & White pitching staff combined for five walks and nine strikeouts, while the Rams posted no walks and 10 strikeouts. 
• Amherst left ten runners on base in the matchup, while Framingham State stranded six. 

UP NEXT 

• The Rams travel to Fitchburg State for a 3 p.m. matchup on May 5.
• Amherst returns to action tomorrow, May 4 when they take on UMASS-Boston at Monan Field beginning at 7:15 p.m.