Senior outfielder Matt Jacobs (Hudson, Mass.) collected four hits and played clutch defense as the River Hawk baseball team split a Saturday double-header with Dowling and Caldwell in Lantana, FL. UMass Lowell fell to the Golden Lions, 10-5, and then held on for a 4-3 victory over Caldwell later that night.

The River Hawks moved to 5-5 on the season, while Dowling improved to 5-6 and the Cougars dropped to 0-2. UMass Lowell has another double-header today in Fort Pierce, FL with Mercy, beginning at 1 p.m.

In the opener, the River Hawks handed the Golden Lions an 8-2 lead after three innings, due in part to a series of errors and a combustible third inning. Already leading 3-2, Dowling started the third with a single, walk and single to load the bases for Ian Schneider (Mount Sinai, N.Y.). Schneider delivered with a bases clearing double as the Golden Lions blew the game wide open.

UMass Lowell made a small comeback in the seventh, scoring three runs to cut the lead to 8-5. The rally was keyed by Jacobs who clocked a two-run double.

Jacobs finished the game 2-for-6 with two RBI and two doubles, while freshman Geoff DeGroot (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) batted 2-for-4 with two walks.

In the late game, UMass Lowell held on with a pair of strong pitching performances from sophomore Mike Calzetta(Lawrence, Mass.) and senior Dallas Nunes (Easton, Mass.).

Calzetta earned the win after pitching seven-plus innings, allowing seven hits, two walks and striking out nine batters. He was relieved by Nunes in the eighth after getting into trouble.

With bases loaded and no outs, Nunes drew a double-play ball and escaped the inning with only one runner crossing the plate. Nunes threw the ninth as well, allowing one unearned run and picking up the save.

The game ended in dramatic fashion as Caldwell's Andrew Nunez (East Elmhurst, N.Y.) hit a two-out single in the ninth, sending Joe O'Donnell (Belleville, N.J.) barreling towards home as the game-tying run. Jacobs scooped the hit and fired a laser to the plate just in time to tag out O'Donnell, saving the game.

In the batter's box, senior Cam Kneeland (Rowley, Mass.) went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a triple. Jacobs was strong again with two hits and two runs scored.