Box Score
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ATLANTA, Ga. — Fueled by a six-run second and seven strong innings from senior Geoff DeGroot (Wesley Chapel, Fla.), the UMass Lowell baseball team picked up a 9-2 victory over Georgia State to split their season-opening series at the GSU Sports Complex.
 
The River Hawks (2-2) chased GSU starter Garrett Ford after just 1 1/3 innings while DeGroot (1-0) allowed one earned run on four hits while striking out three in his first collegiate start. UMass Lowell climbs to 2-2 overall while the Panthers fall to 4-4.
 
"Huge momentum for us to go up early which helped Geoff relax early," said Manager Ken Harring. "We built off the momentum of scoring six in the ninth yesterday and I thought the guys really responded well after a tough loss in game two."
 
The six-run second began when Matt Mottola (Newburyport, Mass.) reached on an error by Panther's third baseman Matt Rose. Mottola advanced to third on a double by Ian Strom (Hopedale, Mass.) and came around to score on a single by Joe Consolmagno (Worcester, Mass.). After Consolmagno stole second, Nick Barry (Grafton, Mass.) singled to right to score Strom. Freshman Ben Prada (Laurel, Md.) was hit by a pitch that loaded the bases for Matthew Sanchez (Sunrise, Fla.) who drew a walk before DeGroot helped his own cause with a two-RBI double down the left field line. Danny Mendick (Rochester, N.Y.) capped off the inning with an RBI single to left.
 
Mendick finished the ballgame 3-for-4, joining DeGroot and Mottola with a two-RBI afternoon.
 
"Mendick is starting off where he ended last year," said Harring. "He's a really good player who has been tremendous for us and is as good a shortstop as I've ever coached and I'm happy he's on our side."
 
DeGroot's lone blemish came in the seventh when Rose hit a solo homerun to left. Freshman Andrew Ryan (Rochester, Mass.) came in relief of DeGroot for two innings and gave up one hit, another solo homerun by Rose with two outs in the ninth.
 
The River Hawks will travel to Dallas for a four game series against Dallas Baptist beginning with a single game on Friday at 6:30 p.m. The clubs will play a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 2 p.m. before the series finale Sunday at 1 p.m.