Box Score


Pace University bats pounded UMass Lowell pitching for 32 hits and 20 runs in sweeping a pair of games, 10-8 and 10-5, Sunday afternoon, at LeLacheur Park.
 
The double dip drops UMass Lowell's record to 16-12-1, Pace improves to 18-9.
 
The first game provided the greatest frustration; River Hawks were unable to protect a three run lead with six outs to go.  The nightcap was a different story, the visitors built an early lead that UMass Lowell was never able to overcome.
 
It was not a day for pitchers, at least not at the outset.  Neither starter made into the fourth inning as the two teams combined for eleven runs and fifteen hits through the opening third of game-one, but the River Hawks had a one run lead, 6-5. 
 
Things quieted as the bullpens took over, but sloppy fielding made it interesting and eventually a nightmare. It was 8-8 through nine frames thanks in part to three unearned runs, two crossing the plate on what should have been an eighth inning ending ground ball, but was mishandled allowing Pace to tie the score and send the game into extra innings.
 
UMass Lowell almost escaped the decisive tenth inning unscathed.  A one-out bases loaded ground ball to short was nearly turned into an inning ending doubleplay, but Robert Horn beat the relay to first keeping the inning alive and allowing the go ahead run to score.  The Setters added one more run before the third out could be recorded.
 
The River Hawks banged out 15 hits, but went without whimper in the tenth, retired in order for only the second time in the game.
 
Sophomores Jacob O'Keefe (Wellington, Fla.) and Pat Parker (Merrimac, Mass.) each had three hits and scored two runs.  Sophomore Matthew Sanchez (Sunrise, Fla.) had two hits, runs and RBIs.   Seniors Pat Devlin (Tewksbury, Mass.) and James Katsiroubas (Milton, Mass.) also had two hits in the game.
 
A couple of River Hawk pitchers turned in solid performances in the opener.  Sophomore Geoff Fisher (Londonderry, N. H.) tossed 3.1 innings of shutout relief.  Senior Mike Sloban (IMerrimac, Mass.) also threw a shutout inning.
 
Pace righthander Edward Byrne picked up the win in relief working 5.1 shutout innings allowing just three hits and a walk.
 
The tough luck loss went to Tyler Toyfair (Agawam, Mass.,) the last of five River Hawk pitchers.
 
If the River Hawks thought Pace would rest on its game-one laurels, it took just one batter in the second game to make the opposite clear.
 
Chris Gili led off the nightcap with a line drive to center that eluded the glove of the diving sophomore centerfielder Luke Reynolds (Manchester, N. H.) and rolled all the way to the centerfield wall for an inside-the-park homerun.
 
The Setters added three more runs in the second before the River Hawks struck back for a three spot of their own in the bottom half of the frame.
 
Sophomore Sam Johnson (Wakefield, R. I.) and Sanchez started the rally with back-to-back doubles that left runners at second and third.  One out later sophomore Kelly Rooney (Upton, Mass.) delivered them both with a line single to left.  It was a one-run ballgame when Rooney eventually scored on a sac fly.
 
That was as close as UMass Lowell would get.  Each team added a run in the fourth inning, But Pace blew the game wide open with five in the fifth inning.
 
Devlin and Sanchez each had three hits in the game including two doubles.  Seven of UMass Lowell's 12 hits in the second game were doubles.
 
Rooney and sophomore Jimmy Ricoy (Lowell, Mass.) each had a pair of hits in the nightcap.  Rooney drove in three runs.
 
Freshman righthander Jordan Del Sol (Elizabeth, N. J.) pitched the final 4.2 innings without allowing a run.
 
The River Hawks have a couple of days off before returning to action Wednesday when they visit Merrimack (3:30pm.)