Box Score
Junior Taylor Robinson (Haverhill, Mass.) threw six strong innings in his first start of the year, but the River Hawk baseball team dropped a 4-1 decision at Stonehill College on Wednesday afternoon. Plagued by an injury for most of the season, Robinson allowed four unearned runs, four hits and struck out three in his return to the rotation.

“Taylor Robinson pitched unbelievable in his first start,” said head coach Ken Harring. “We got into a little trouble in the sixth inning and he made one bad pitch and that's the one that beat us, but I'm proud of the way he battled today.”

UMass Lowell slips to 23-15-1 overall on the year and 12-9-1 in the Northeast-10. Most importantly, the River Hawks fall to 7-7 in Northeast Division action—tied with Stonehill (24-17, 12-10 NE-10, 7-7 NE) for fifth in the division and sitting outside of the four available playoff spots.

The River Hawks captured an early lead in the game, scoring in the top of the second inning. Junior James Katsiroubas (Milton, Mass.) reached on an error by the third baseman, and then stole second to get into scoring position. With one out, senior Mark Sanborn (Hopkinton, Mass.) doubled to left field to take a 1-0 lead.

Robinson rolled through the first five innings on the mound, allowing just a single while keeping the Skyhawks off balance.

The sixth looked to start in similar fashion after Robinson induced a pair of groundouts to kick things off. The game took a turn for the worse after a hit-by-pitch and two-out error set up a three run homer to right field by Michael White (Lisbon, N.H.). A few batters later Steven Popp (Unionville, Conn.) added an RBI single to push the score to 4-1.

UMass Lowell failed to mount a comeback, despite putting two runners on in both the eighth and ninth innings. Reliever Bryant Guilmette (Hopkinton, Mass.) did his best to keep the game within reach, holding Stonehill scoreless in two innings of work.

Stonehill's Jim Duff (Garden City, N.Y.) threw a complete game while improving to 3-1 on the year. Duff allowed 10 hits and struck out seven while surrendering just one unearned run.

Sanborn led the team at the plate, batting 4-for-4 with an RBI and stolen base. Classmate Matt Jacobs (Hudson, Mass.) also had a multi-hit effort, batting 2-for-5 with a triple, while freshman Jacob O'Keefe (Wellington, Fla.) went 2-for-4.

The River Hawks will have a short turnaround, hosting the Northeast-10's Southwest Division member American International on Thursday at LeLacheur Park at 3:30 p.m.