May 20, 2011
Box Score
On the back on starter Garrett Cole (Manchester, N.H.), UMass Lowell baseball sent Dowling College packing, 3-1, in Friday's NCAA Tournament East Regional elimination game at Pappas Field in Rindge, NH.
The game featured stellar pitching and timely hitting as the River Hawks soared to the two-run victory to improve to 37-13 on the season. The Golden Lions saw an end to their year, finishing with a 25-26 record.
"We came to the park ready to play," said head coach Ken Harring. "It's a credit to the guys, we put plays on, but they've got to execute them."
UMass Lowell drew first blood in the game as Mark Sanborn (Hopkinton, Mass.) launched a home run far over the left field fence, landing in the parking lot and hitting a car on the first bounce. The solo shot put the River Hawks on top 1-0 in the second inning.
"I think it relaxed us a little bit to see Mark hit a ball like that," Harring said of the home run.
The Golden Lions scraped across their lone run in the fourth. After a passed ball and wild pitch put Andrew Abreu (Lake Grove, N.Y.) on third base, Eddie Squeri (Shirley, N.Y.) hit an RBI ground out to short.
The River Hawks resumed their one run lead in the sixth. Sean Burns (Colchester, Vt.) battled through an at bat before roping a double into right-center. Matt Jacobs (Hudson, Mass.) then locked into another battle with the pitcher, finally getting a ball he could drive as he lined a single into center to plate Burns. UMass Lowell went on to load the bases with two outs, but couldn't cash in for any more runs.
The lead was extended in eighth as Dylan Flynn (Upton, Mass.) knocked a base hit into left-center to bring home Cam Kneeland (Rowley, Mass.) from second.
Cole put forth one of his strongest performances of the season, pitching a complete game gem. The righty allowed just one unearned run while striking out six batters and walking one. Cole, who gave up just four hits, lowered his program record earned run average to 0.82, besting the mark of 1.01 set by Bill Moloney in 1978.
"I had command of all three of my pitches," said Cole of his outing. "Working inside-outside and got ahead of hitters. The first couple of innings I didn't get ahead, but after that I got the hang of things."
As the River Hawks move on, they eagerly wait to see who they will face on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. If Wilmington wins today, it will face UMass Lowell. If Adelphi prevails, the River Hawks will play the loser of Franklin Pierce versus Southern Connecticut State.
