March 27, 2011

Box Score

River Hawk baseball scored four runs in the ninth inning to upend Southern New Hampshire, 9-7, on Sunday afternoon. Shortstop Cam Kneeland (Rowley, Mass.) led the offense with three RBI.

The sixth consecutive win boosts UMass Lowell record to 18-2 overall and a perfect 5-0 in Northeast-10 play. The Penmen stumble to 9-11 with the loss and 0-3 in conference action.

The River Hawks got off to a strong start. Matt Jacobs (Hudson, Mass.) led off the game with a single and was sacrifice bunted over by Sean Burns (Colchester, Vt.). Slugger Kneeland brought Jacobs home with a single into left field for his team-leading 22nd RBI of the season.

The Penmen leveled the score in the bottom of the second, a pair of errors in the infield allowed Chris O'Neil (Chelmsford, Mass.) to score from second base.

The tide turned in Southern New Hampshire's favor in the fifth. The Penmen plated five runs, largely due to a three-run homer by O'Neil.

UMass Lowell responded in the top of the sixth, getting back three runs to cut the score to 6-4. Burns, Kneeland and Rob Noe (Lynnfield, Mass.) each recorded RBI singles.

Both teams traded runs in the seventh and eighth innings, setting up a dramatic ninth inning.

Mark Sanborn (Hopkinton, Mass.) and Connor Burnham (Harwich, Mass.) each singled, followed by a Jacobs' walk. With bases loaded and one out, Burns notched an RBI single and Kneeland walked to tie the game. Southern New Hampshire then committed a throwing error to plate two more runs and give UMass Lowell the eventual 9-7 win.

Captain Dustin Ramey (Kingston, N.H.) started on the mound, pitching over four innings before giving way to Taylor Robinson (Haverhill, Mass.). Ramey allowed six hits, four earned runs and three walks. Robinson earned the win, improving to 4-0, while holding the Penmen to one earned run and striking out two batters in 3.2 innings. Dallas Nunes (Easton, Mass.) pitched a nearly perfect ninth to notch his fifth save of the year.

Among those with big days at the plate, Kneeland finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored. Also shining at the dish, Burns collected two hits, two RBI and two runs.

The two teams will face each other once again on Wednesday, but the location will switch to LeLacheur Park. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.