March 17, 2010

Box Score

The River Hawk baseball club (10-5) had its seven game win streak snapped by Barry University (14-7) on Wednesday night, 17-5. The loss was UMass Lowell's first on its annual Florida trip.

The River Hawks jumped out to an early lead as Luke Wallace (Yorktown Heights, NY) led off with a single, followed by a Sean Burns (Colchester, VT) double to stack two runners in scoring position. Wallace came home on a passed ball, followed by a fielder's choice to plate Burns.

The lead was short-lived as Barry University exploded for eight runs in the bottom half of the first inning. The Buccaneers' offense was highlighted by a three-run home run by Joaquin Valdes (Miami, FL). Sophomore Cam Kneeland (Rowley, MA) pitched just two-thirds of the inning and was responsible for all eight runs.

Barry picked up seven more runs over the next five innings through a series of home runs by Valdes, Anthony Iglesias (Miami, FL) and Ryan Garcia (Miami, FL).

UMass Lowell got two runs back in the seventh, cutting the deficit to 15-4, after some hectic fielding and a wild pitch scored Wallace and senior catcher Jared Notargiacomo (Newburyport, MA).

The River Hawks were unable to silence the Barry offense as it plated two more runs over the final two innings.

Bryan Deuel (Webster, NY) scored one last run in the ninth inning on a Mark Sanborn (Hopkinton, MA) fielder's choice with the bases loaded.

UMass Lowell will have one final game in Florida before returning to Lowell for its home opener. The River Hawks face Nyack tomorrow at 10 a.m., then host Southern Connecticut State for a double-header on Saturday at 12 p.m.