Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 VESTAL, N. Y. (May 3, 2014) – Strong pitching and clutch hitting combined to give UMass Lowell baseball a hard fought victory in the nightcap and a doubleheader split with Binghamton University University, Saturday afternoon, at Varsity Field in Vestal, N. Y.
 
"That was a really gutty win," said UMass Lowell Head Coach Ken Harring referring to the second game.  "That's as a good a win as we've had this year against a team that's playing really good ball."
 
UMass Lowell won the second game, 3-2, after dropping the opener, 10-6.  The River Hawks sit in third place in the America East Conference standings with a 9-7 record, 18-17 overall.  They are a game and a half ahead of Binghamton.  The Bearcats are 18-21 over all and 9-10 in conference play.  The two teams will wrap up the three game series with a single game Sunday.
 
The key to the nightcap was the strong right arm of senior Mike Calzetta (Lawrence, Mass.)  He gave the beleaguered pitching staff just what it needed; a terrific performance and a bit of a rest.
 
"I'm really proud of Calzy,"  said Harring.  "He stepped up and pitched a big game.  He's our go-to guy and he really worked hard."
 
Calzetta threw a strong seven innings allowing five hits and two runs.  He walked three andc struck out three.
 
The game was touch-and-go with the River Hawks twice holding a one-run lead and twice watching Binghamton battle back to tie it.  UMass Lowell's first run had scored on a Jacob O'Keefe (Wellington, Fla.) single, the second had crossed the plate thanks to a throwing error.
 
The game was decided in the seventh, the final frame in America East Conference doubleheaders. 
 
A one-out single by Ian Strom (Hopedale, Mass.) started things innocently enough.  It was Strom's fourth hit of the day. 
 
"He does a good job of making adjustments," said Harring.  "He's a super tough kid who comes ready to play."
 
Freshman Zack Tower (Auburn, Mass.) drove Strom home from first, drilling a one-ball two-strike pitch, for a double up the left center field power alley.  It was Tower's second game winning hit in four days.
 
"He's making the most of his opportunities," said Harring.  "He didn't have a lot of opportunities early, but he has ability and he has become more coachable as the season has gone on."
 
It was 3-2, UMass Lowell, and there were three outs to get.  Calzetta got the job done with a strike out, and after giving up a single, a pop fly and a ground ball.
 
It was just what the ball club needed after dropping the first game, 10-6.
 
The home team won that game behind an artillery barrage of extra base hits including five doubles, two triples and three homeruns.
 
Sophomore Matt Mottola (Newburyport, Mass.) had two hits including a two-run homerun, for the River Hawks, in the first game.
 
After Sunday's single game at Binghamton, the River Hawks will have the week off before wrapping up the America East season with a three game series next weekend against the conference leaders, the University of Hartford.