March 16, 2010

Box Score

The River Hawk baseball club (10-4) ran its win streak to seven games with a sweep of Tuesday's double-header with 2009 Division II NCAA East Region Champion Dowling College (5-5). UMass Lowell won by scores of 5-3 and 8-0 as sophomore right-hander Dallas Nunes (Easton, MA) threw a complete game four-hitter in the second contest.

"Everybody is contributing, we've dealt with our injuries and that's what a team is all about," said head coach Ken Harring. "We've figured out what our lineup is going to be and I'm proud of how the guys are pulling for each other. Today was a very good day and to get the two wins speaks volumes about our ballclub."

In the opening game, the River Hawks scored a 5-3 victory on the bat of Cam Kneeland (Rowley, MA). The talented sophomore belted a two RBI double in the third inning to kick-start the UMass Lowell offense. He received help from Sean Burns (Colchester, VT) who scored two runs and tallied an RBI on a sacrifice fly.

In his first start of the season, junior pitcher Ted Haley (Cranston, RI) struggled through four and two-thirds innings. Haley allowed just three runs, two earned, but hit five batters.

Ryan Stoller (Milton, MA) played the hero with an excellent stint out of the bullpen. Stoller earned the first win of his career after getting the River Hawks out of a jam in the fifth inning and pitching a stellar sixth. Stoller allowed just two hits and struck out one. Tyler Toyfair (Agawam, MA) loaded the bases in the seventh, but escaped with his third save of the season.

In the second game, Nunes dominated on the mound as he spread out four hits over seven innings in a complete game shutout win. Nunes picked up three strikeouts while walking just one in his first win of the season.

Kneeland provided the offense again, batting three-for-four with pair of two RBI doubles in the first and fourth innings. Kneeland tallied six RBI on the day.

Burns played a key role once more, hitting three-of-four while scoring three runs. He was helped by Jared Notargiacomo (Newburyport, MA) and JT Leary (Newburyport, MA) who each collected two hits and an RBI.

UMass Lowell has just two games left on its annual Florida trip. First, they battle Barry University at 6 p.m. on Wednesday before facing Nyack at 10 a.m. on Thursday.