Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Albany, N. Y. (April 5, 2014) – The UMass Lowell baseball team pounded five University of Albany pitchers for 13 hits and 11 runs as the River Hawks took the nightcap to earn a doubleheader split with the Great Danes, Saturday afternoon, at Varsity Field in Albany, N. Y.
 
"It was a character win," said Head Coach Ken Harring.  "I was extremely proud of the effort; they showed what they are made of and rebounded well after the frustration of the first game."
 
UMass Lowell won the second game 11-4 after dropping the opener, 8-7.  With the win the River Hawks ended a seven game losing skid and evened their record at 9-9 overall and improved to 3-1 America East Conference play.  Albany's record dropped to 5-16 / 3-5.
 
The biggest hit of the second game may have come early.  Freshman Ian Strom (Hopedale, Mass.) drilled a two-out, two-run second inning double to left center.  It put UMass Lowell up 2-0 and was just the shot in the arm the team needed after a walk-off loss in the first game.
 
"That changed the complexion of the game," said Harring.  "He cut down on his swing and worked to put the ball in play.  He loves to compete."
 
The River Hawks blew open a 3-2 ballgame with a five-run fifth inning and then added some insurance with three more runs in the sixth.
 
The River Hawks got offensive contributions from the entire lineup. 
 
"We got back to "who" we were at the beginning of the season," said Harring.  "We had grinding at bats, we put the ball in play and we put pressure on the defense."
 
Sophomore Matt Mottola (Newburyport, Mass.) banged out four hits and played the role of table-setter eventually crossing the plate three times.
 
"He's got great balance at the plate," said Harring.  "He's cut down on his swing, uses the whole field, pole to pole.  He got hits off of a fast ball, a curve and a change up; he's in the zone."
 
The top third of the River Hawk lineup had a stat-party banging out five hits, driving in seven runs and scoring three as well.  Junior Luke Reynolds (Manchester, N. H.) had two hits, two RBIs and scored twice.  Strom had two hits, drove in three and scored once.  Junior Matthew Sanchez (Sunrise, Fla.) had a hit, a walk and two runs driven in.
 
The offense provided more than enough support for the pitching staff.  Senior starter Mike Calzetta (Lawrence, Mass.) turned in a workman-like five innings allowing just three runs.  The right-hander forced hitters to put the ball in play.,  He walked one and struck out no one.
 
Senior Nick Boutoures (Wilmington, Mass.) closed it out throwing the final couple of frames.
 
The game win changed the mood for a ball club frustrated after a first game loss.  The River Hawks let a seven run lead slip from its grasp in game one; an 8-7 loss.
 
Albany designated hitter Evan Harasta hit a two-out three-run walk off homerun in the bottom of the ninth inning to complete a improbable come-from-behind victory.  Albany trailed by seven runs in the sixth, but had narrowed the gap to two runs entering its final at bat.
 
UMass Lowell had jumped out to a big lead early in the ball game scoring three runs in the first inning and adding three more in the second.  They built the lead to a seemingly safe 7-0 with a run in the fourth.
 
The River Hawks banged out 10 hits, nine of them coming from the top five hitters in the lineup, in game one.  Junior Jimmy Ricoy (Lowell, Mass.) led the way with three hits and three runs driven in.  Reynolds and  strom each had two hits and two runs scored.
 
Senior right-hander Shane Beauchemin (Manchester, N. H.) worked into the seventh allowing four runs.  He departed with the lead, but the bullpen was unable nail it down.
 
Junior Geoff DeGroot (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) took the loss in relief.  He'd gotten two outs in the ninth, but could not get one more.
 
Albany's offense revolved around two big hits.  In addition to Harasta'a game winning home run, catcher Craig Lepre hits a seventh inning grand slam homerun that narrowed the gap to two runs at 7-5.
 
The two teams will wrap up the weekend three game series with a single game on Sunday afternoon.