Box Score

BROOKLINE, Mass. – Junior Matthew Sanchez (Sunrise, Fla.) was perfect at the plate, but it wasn't enough as Northeastern University defeated the River Hawks 7-3, in a non-conference match up, at Friedman Diamond on Tuesday afternoon.

The River Hawks dropped to 19-21 overall, while Northeastern improved to 24-25 on the season. The Huskies will host UNCW in a three-game to close out their regular season.

"I thought we came out a little bit flat" said UMass Lowell Head Coach Ken Harring. "They capitalized on our one mistake; tip your cap to (James) Mulry (Northeastern's starting pitcher.)"

The Huskies scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the second on a single hit. A hit batsman and a double put two men in scoring position with two away. The Huskies number nine hitter, Josh Treff struck out, but reached base safely as the pitch skipped by catcher freshman Jack Trotman (East Amherst, N.Y.) allowing both runs to score.   

Northeastern added to its lead when it batted around in the home half of the third inning to grab a commanding 6-0 lead.  The Huskies sent a total of 10 men to the plate. They scored four runs, on four hits, two walks and left the bases loaded.

The River Hawks, as has been the case all season long, did not quit. They put a couple of runs on the board in the fifth inning with the help of a Northeastern fielding miscue.  Freshman Ian Strom (Hopedale, Mass.) took advantage of the extra out drilling a single to center to score junior Kelly Rooney (Upton, Mass.), who had walked, and sophomore Louis Tarantino (Nashua, N. H.,) who had reached on the error, to cut the deficit to 6-2.  

UMass Lowell made it a three-run game an inning later. Trotman hit a two-out RBI single to left field to score junior Matthew Sanchez (Sunrise, Fla.). Sanchez reached base safely four times today, going 3-for-3 and HBP. He raised his batting average to a team-high .351. 

"Matty is a really good hitter, smart hitter, takes what the pitcher gives him," said Harring.  "When he is locked in, he is fun to watch."

Northestern added an insurance run in the eighth on back-to-back doubles by leadoff hitter Connor Lyons and Michael Foster. Lyons and Foster combined to go 6-for-9, with two RBI and scored two runs. Huskie's starter James Mulry improved to 2-3 on the season after going five, allowing two unearned runs.

In all the River Hawks used four pitchers. UMass Lowell starter freshman Steve Xirinachs (San Diego, Calif.) took the loss and fell to 2-3 on the season. Sophomore lefty Thulani Denaro (Acton, Mass.) tossed two innings of work, gave up a run on a sac fly. Freshman Raz Bracha (Irvine, Calif.) pitched three scoreless innings of relief, allowing just a single walk. Finishing out the game for the River Hawks sophomore Jordan Del Sol (Elizabeth, N.J.) gave up one run on two hits. 

The River Hawks travel to Hempstead, N.Y. to play Hofstra University in a three game series.  The two will play a single game on Friday starting at 3:00 p.m.  They wrap up the series with a pair of games Saturday, first pitched set for noon.