Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (April 8, 2014) – Tough at bats and two-out hits were the difference as the UMass Lowell baseball team defeated Fairfield University, 4-2, Tuesday afternoon at Alumni Diamond in Fairfield, Conn.
 
The non-conference win moved the River Hawks back to the .500 mark with a 10-10 record overall; they are 3-2 in America East Conference play.  Fairfield drops to 12-13 overall; they are 6-2 in the MAAC.
 
"It was a good win against a good ballclub," said Head Coach Ken Harring.  "That was a good ball game, I was happy with everything, it was fun to be part of."
 
There were no big innings, the River Hawk spread the scoring over three different innings. All four runs crossed the plate with two men out.  Junior Danny Mendick (Rochester, N. Y.) and sophomore Matt Mottola (Newburyport, Mass.) keyed the offense with clutch two-out hits.
 
Mendick put the River Hawks on the board the first time they came to bat.  His two-out line drive single over the leaping shortstop into left field plated the game's first run.  Mottola quickly followed with a line single to right on a full count fast ball, 2-0.
 
Mendick's next two-out opportunity came in the third inning with the lead narrowed to a single run.  He drilled the first pitch of the at bat up the middle to score a runner from third.
 
"He's mature, he has good instincts, comes up with a plan and makes adjustments from at bat to at bat," said Harring.  "He's balanced at the plate, he doesn't get fooled by a pitch; he's just a good hitter."
 
UMass Lowell added its final run, again restoring a two-run lead, in the ninth inning when junior Jimmy Ricoy (Lowell, Mass.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
 
That, too, was a quality at bat.
 
"We had 25 quality at bats today," said Harring.  "We hit the ball hard all day."
 
The River Hawks banged out 13 hits. Mendick, Mottola, Sophomore Joe Consolmagno (Worcester, Mass,), junior Matthew Sanchez (Sunrise, Fla.), and junior Jacob O'Keefe (Wellington, Fla.) each had two hits in the game.
 
The pitching was handled by committee.  Senior Garrett Cole (Bedford, N. H.), freshman Raz Bracha (Irvine, Calif.), sophomore Thulani Denaro (Acton, Mass.) and senior Nick Boutoures (Wilmington, Mass.) each took a turn on the hill.  Bracha was credited with the win as none of the pitchers threw more than three innings.  It was the right-handers second win of the season.  Boutoures earned his second save.
 
"They threw strikes, they kept hitters off balance," was the coach's assessment.
 
UMass Lowell will finally get a chance to play on the grass of Lelacheur Park, in Lowell, when they return to action this weekend.  The River Hawks host the University Maine for a three game series.  The two will play a doubleheader Saturday starting at noon.  They wrap up the series with a single game Sunday at 1pm.