Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

The River Hawk baseball club lost both games of a Saturday double-header against Adelphi at LeLacheur Park by scores of 4-3 and 6-5. Center fielder Matt Jacobs (Hudson, Mass.) did his best to prevent the sweep, batting 4-for-8 on the afternoon with five runs scored and a stolen base.

The sweep drops UMass Lowell to 22-5 overall on the season and 9-3 in the Northeast-10. The Panthers get a boost to 19-8-1 on the campaign and 9-3 in the conference.

In game one of the afternoon, Cam Kneeland (Rowley, Mass.) put the River Hawks on top in the first inning with an RBI single. Jacobs led off with an infield hit, then was moved over on a sacrifice bunt by Sean Burns (Colchester, Vt.). Kneeland's single into right-center brought Jacobs around for a collision at the plate that prevented the catcher from making a play.

The Panthers erased the deficit in the third, scoring on an RBI single from Richard McCarren (Seaford, N.Y.) to bring home Thomas Thorstensen (Holbrook, N.Y.).

UMass Lowell resumed its lead following a James Katsiroubas (Milton, Mass.) two-out single in the bottom of the third. Jacobs led off the inning, again, with a double down the left field line, then Katsiroubas floated a broken bat single over the third baseman's head for the RBI.

Katsiroubas expanded the lead to 3-1 in the fifth with a single up the middle, scoring Jacobs once more from second base.

Adelphi closed the gap in the eighth inning, cutting the score to 3-2 with an RBI groundout by McCarren. The Panthers nearly tied the game, but Jacobs threw out Craig Matteo (Herricks, N.Y.) at the plate to end the inning.

The contest came undone for the River Hawks in the ninth however, as a three base error put the game-tying run on third with no outs. Lucas Romeo (Queens, N.Y.) followed with an RBI single and was eventually brought home on a double by Matteo to give Adelphi a lead it wouldn't surrender, 4-3.

Jack Leathersich (Beverly, Mass.) was dominant on the mound, earning a no decision after eight innings of work. Leathersich (4-2) allowed four hits, two runs and five walks, but struck out 11 batters--one shy of his career high. Dallas Nunes (Easton, Mass.) pitched the ninth, allowed two runs, zero earned, and striking out one.

Adelphi's Robert Nixon (Welland, Ont.) improved to 5-1 with a complete game, allowing seven hits, three runs and fanning nine.

In the late game the Panthers jumped out to a 4-0 lead after a rocky start from pitcher Taylor Robinson (Haverhill, Mass.). Among the big hits, Thorstensen launched a two-run homer over the left-center field wall.

The River Hawks cut the margin in half during the fourth inning. With runners on second and third, catcher Rob Noe (Lynnfield, Mass.) pushed a single into right field for a pair of RBI.

UMass Lowell leveled the score at 4-4 in the sixth. Kneeland ripped an RBI single into left field, then a miscue on a pickoff throw allowed Burns to score from third. Jacobs saved a run in the top of the seventh, making a full extension diving catch in center field with two outs and a runner on second base.

The River Hawks took their first lead of the game in the seventh inning, 5-4. Burns lined a single into left field to bring home Pat Devlin (Tewksbury, Mass.) from second base.

The Panthers rallied in the ninth, however, plating a pair of runs to take a 6-5 advantage. Thorstensen and Omar Velazquez (Astoria, N.Y.) each poked RBI singles to take the lead and, ultimately, win the game.

Robinson settled down after the bumpy start, retiring 10 straight batters at one point. The righty finished with 8.1 innings pitched, six runs allowed--four earned--and gave up 10 hits. Robinson struck out seven batters as he fell to 4-1 on the season. Bryant Guilmette (Hopkinton, Mass.) tossed the final two outs, allowing one hit.

Suffering its first two-game skid of the year, UMass Lowell will look to get back to its winning ways on Sunday at Stonehill. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.