AMHERST, Mass. (Interstat) — The Massachusetts Minutemen scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to rally from a two-run deficit and defeat the Central Michigan Chippewas 13-9 on Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader.

Massachusetts improved to 18-29 overall, while Central Michigan fell to 21-29.

The Minutemen trailed 5-7 entering the bottom of the eighth after Central Michigan had taken its first lead of the game in the top of the inning on a two-run single by Dax Verburg. But Massachusetts answered with a flurry of runs, sending 11 batters to the plate.

Jack Beverly led off the eighth with a solo home run to deep left field to tie the game at 7-7. After a walk to Quinn Hill, Vance Bonior walked, and Tim Gavin walked to load the bases. A walk to Cole McCarthy forced in the go-ahead run, and a throwing error by Central Michigan pitcher Nate Keller on a failed pickoff attempt allowed another run to score. A wild pitch by reliever Jake Brown brought in another run, and Beverly walked with the bases loaded to drive in the sixth run of the inning, making it 13-5.

Central Michigan mounted a comeback in the top of the ninth, scoring four runs. Logan Keilen walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After two outs, Isaiah Velazco pinch-hit and tripled to right field, scoring Keilen and pinch-runner Dylan Campanale. Cole Prout then homered to left field, scoring Velazco and cutting the deficit to 13-9. But Jayden Webb singled and Verburg singled, putting the tying run on base, before Nathaniel Bowman struck out swinging to end the game.

Prout finished 2 for 5 with a home run and two RBIs. Keilen was 1 for 3 with a three-run home run in the sixth inning that put Central Michigan on the board. Verburg went 2 for 5 with two RBIs.

For Massachusetts, Beverly was 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs. Vance Bonior hit a two-run homer in the third inning and added two RBIs. Tim Gavin also homered in the third.

Adam Merritt started for Massachusetts and went 5 2/3 innings, allowing five hits, three earned runs and striking out five. He left with a 4-3 lead. Jared Hanson pitched 2 1/3 innings of relief for Central Michigan, allowing no hits and one earned run while striking out three. Tyson Potts started for the Chippewas and went four innings, allowing no hits but four earned runs and three strikeouts. Mitchell Tarnowski recorded one strikeout in one-third of an inning. Brown faced one batter and allowed one earned run on a wild pitch without recording an out.

The Chippewas outhit the Minutemen 11-10, but Central Michigan committed one error and the Massachusetts pitching staff issued 11 walks.

Central Michigan struck first in the game, scoring three runs in the top of the sixth on Keilen’s homer to deep center field that scored Verburg and Bowman. That cut Massachusetts’ lead to 3-4. The Minutemen had taken a 4-0 lead on solo home runs by Bonior, Gavin and Fox, along with Bonior’s two-run shot.

The Chippewas took a 5-4 lead in the top of the eighth on Verburg’s two-run single, but Massachusetts answered immediately.

The teams met Friday, with Central Michigan winning 5-3. The second game of the doubleheader was scheduled later Saturday.