April 25, 2010
Box Score
The River Hawk baseball club (24-19, 11-12 NE-10) struggled to a 5-1 loss in their final regular season home game versus Franklin Pierce (31-11-1, 17-5-1 NE-10) on Sunday afternoon. Senior JT Leary (Newburyport, MA) accounted for three of UMass Lowell's seven hits and registered the team's lone RBI.
The Ravens came out swinging, picking up a run in the top of the first inning on a one-out RBI double to deep right field by Derek Ingui (Sterling, MA). The River Hawks avoided a big inning as Matt Jacobs (Hudson, MA) doubled off Ingui at second on a fly out to right field during the next at bat.
Franklin Pierce continued to hit well early, scoring another run in the second to push its lead to 2-0. Mike Augustine (Kingston, NY) knocked in Nick LaCroix (Grafton, MA) with a bloop single into centerfield.
Starter Dustin Ramey (Kingston, NH) was chased from the game after surrendering three more runs in the top of the fifth inning. Ramey allowed three hits in the inning, including an RBI triple by LaCroix to right-center before handing the ball over to Matt Monico (Tewksbury, MA). Monico recorded three straight outs to avoid any further damage.
UMass Lowell managed to push a run across in the bottom of the ninth to prevent being shutout. Cam Kneeland (Rowley, MA) knocked a one-out single into right center and was brought home on a RBI base hit through the left side by Leary.
For the day, Ramey (6-4) was saddled with the loss after pitching four-plus innings and allowing five runs, four earned. In relief, Monico tossed three scoreless innings and struck out one batter. Senior Jeffrey Maloney (Haverhill, MA) closed out the game with two scoreless frames.
The Raven's starter Jose Macias (Bronx, NY) improved to 7-0 on the mound with six and a third innings of shutout ball. Macias struck out 11 while allowing just four hits and one walk.
Prior to today's game, UMass Lowell honored its seven seniors who were playing their final home games: Leary, Maloney, Monico, Jared Notargiacomo (Newburyport, MA), Peter Onorato (Clarence Center, NY), Taylor von Kriegenbergh (Stoneham, MA) and Luke Wallace (Yorktown Heights, NY).
With today's loss behind them, the River Hawks will have a chance for revenge as the two teams will square off once more on Tuesday. The clubs will switch venues to the Raven's home field in Rindge, NH, with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
