Box Score
Ken Harring Post Game Audio  

LOWELL, Mass. – Junior Christian Lavoie (Hopkinton, Mass.) went the distance as the UMass Lowell baseball team defeated Stony Brook, 3-1, in the rubber game of the series Saturday afternoon at LeLacheur Park in Lowell, Mass.  

The River Hawks improved to 12-15, 5-6 in the America East and look to make it three in a row on Tuesday at Marist College. The Seawolves dropped to 22-13, 8-3 in conference action.

Lavoie threw 121 pitches, 83 strikes, in his first career complete game victory. He allowed just three hits, an unearned run, while striking out three with only two walks.

"Christian Lavoie was outstanding," said head coach Ken Harring. "The players showed a great amount of character after a tough game one loss. "

UMass Lowell grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of second after Matthew Sanchez (Sunrise, Fla.) scored on double play ball off the bat of Jimmy Ricoy (Lowell, Mass.). Sanchez reached base after getting hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. The River Hawks got the lead man on five times in today's win.   

The Seawolves would tie it at 1-1 in the fourth, when Kevin Courtney hit a sac fly to left field scoring Robert Chavarria. Chavarria reached base on a single to center and would advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a throwing error.  

In the bottom half of the fifth inning the River Hawks would retake the lead in typical UMass Lowell small ball fashion. Sophomore Joe Consolmagno (Worcester, Mass.) led off the inning laying down a perfect bunt down the third base line. Advanced to second on a sac bunt by yesterday's hero junior Jacob O'Keefe (Wellington, Mass.).  Junior Kelly Rooney (Upton, Mass.) then knocked a 3-2 pitch back up the middle to score Consolmagno.

"I am proud of the way the entire team competed against a very good Stony Brook team," said Harring. 

The River Hawks would add an insurance run in the seventh on a double steal. With runners on the corners, Rooney stole second and Consolmagno came in to give UMass Lowell a 3-1 advantage. Lavoie would get the next six outs for the win.  

Freshman Ian Strom (Hopedale, Mass.) went 2-for-4 on the day and had seven putouts in the centerfield. Consolmagno had an RBI in a 1-for-2 day with a walk. Tyler Honnahan took the loss for Stony Brook and fell to 5-2 on season. He lasted six innings, giving up four hits, two earned runs, while striking out four on the day. Both teams stranded five base runners on the afternoon.