River Hawks Take Two From Binghamton

Saturday, March 15

Kingston, RI

12:00 pm

University of Massachusetts Lowell

7-2, 0

Binghamton University

4-10, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Binghamton	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	2	8	0
UMass Lowell	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	0	X	4	11	2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Binghamton	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	4	2
UMass Lowell	0	2	1	0	1	0	X	4	5	1

Matthew Sanchez went 4-for-6 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored.

Photo by: Bob Ellis

3/15/2014 5:54:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

KINGSTON, R.I. – The UMass Lowell baseball team swept a doubleheader, Saturday, from defending America East Champion Binghamton University by identical 4-2 scores at Bill Beck Field in Kingston, R.I.

The contests were the first conference games for UMass Lowell, the newest member of America East.

The River Hawks improved to 8-2 overall, 2-0 in America East Conference play, Binghamton dropped to 4-11, 0-2 in conference. The two clubs will play again Sunday at noon in Kingston.

"It was two good wins against a quality team," said Head Coach Ken Harring, "but Sunday is another challenge."

Clutch at bats proved to be the difference in the opener. Junior Jacob O'Keefe's (Wellington, Fla.) two out, two run single to center, in the bottom of sixth inning, erased a 1-0 deficite and gave the River Hawks a lead they never relinquished.

UMass Lowell tacked on two more runs in the seventh when junior Jimmy Ricoy (Lowell, Mass.) drilled a single to left scoring sophomore Joe Consolmagno (Worcester, Mass.) who'd started the inning with a base hit to right. Junior Matthew Sanchez (Sunrise, Fla.) would later score on a wild pitch to give the River Hawks a 4-1 lead.

The Bearcats scored a run in the ninth but could not get any closer than the 4-2 final.

Senior Shane Beauchemin (Manchester, N.H.) went 7.2 innings allowing two runs on seven hits with two strikeouts. Beauchemin improved to 2-0 on the season.

Senior Nick Boutoures (Wilmington, Mass.) picked up the save after pitching the final 1.1 innings.

Binghamton starter Jack Rogalla took the loss and falls to 2-2. Rogalla had 10 strikeouts.

Senior Mike Calzetta (Lawrence, Mass.) was dominant on the River Hawk mound in game two. The righthander threw a complete game, allowing just two runs on four hits, he struck out four. The win was his first decision of the year.

"Calzetta set the tone for game two," said Harring. "That's the best game he's pitched since his freshman year. He had a good command of his fastball."

As was the case in the first game UMass Lowell, playing as the home team, had to come from behind, and they did so. Down 1-0 in the second, the River Hawks push two runs across the plate on a Binghamton error and an infield out. Singles by Ricoy and Sanchez and a walk to freshman Tyler Noe (Lynnfield, Mass.) had set the inning in motion.

Sanchez knocked in a pair of runs with an infield out in the third and a single in the fifth inning to give the River Hawks a 4-1 lead.

The Bearcats added a run in the final inning but Calzetta got Eddie Posavec to ground out to Mendick to finish the sweep.

Sanchez went 4-for-6, in the twin bill, with two RBI and scored a pair of runs. O'Keefe had two RBI and junior Luke Reynolds (Manchester, N.H.) was 2-for-3 and scored two runs.

The Bearcats Nick Pancerella had two RBI.