Box Score (PDF)

HARTFORD, Conn. – Two run in the top of the 10th inning were too much to overcome as the UMass Lowell baseball team fell to the Yale University Bulldogs, 8-7, Thursday afternoon at Fiondellla Field.

The game was originally scheduled as the River Hawks' (3-9) home opener, but was moved to the University of Hartford due to the snow on LeLacheur Park.
UMass Lowell threatened to win the game in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the ninth when Matthew Sanchez (Sunrise, Fla.) doubled to lead off the inning. Ian Strom (Hopedale, Mass.) put down a sacrifice bunt that caused a wild throw and Sanchez to trot home, but the umpire called interference on Strom causing Sanchez to be sent back to second.

The Bulldogs (6-4) responded with two runs in the top of the 10th off a fielder's choice and a single to left off the bats of Harrison White and Richard Slenker, respectively.

In the bottom of the inning, the River Hawks had the bases loaded with no outs, but could only score once when Joe Consolmagno (Worcester, Mass.) drove in Tyler Noe (Lynnfield, Mass.) on a fielder's choice.

Yale forced extras in the top of the seventh, trailing 6-5, when Tom Ruddy grounded out to second with runners on the corners.

The Bulldogs' led 5-2 after three and a half innings before UMass Lowell scored two in the bottom of the fourth and two in the fifth. The first run in the fourth was due to a bases loaded walk with Consolmagno at the dish, and the next at bat a passed ball scored Ben Prada (Laurel, Md.). In the fifth Geoff DeGroot (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) sent home his second run of the game on a single to left field. Two batters later the Yale pitcher, Drew Scott, was called for a balk sending home Prada for the 6-5 lead.

DeGroot led the way for the River Hawks, going 3-for-4 with two RBI, and making a superman diving catch in the top of the fifth, robbing an extra-base hit and a Yale run.
Danny Mendick (Rochester, N.Y.) went 3-for-5 and crossed the plate once. Prada scored a game-high two runs.

Slenker had a team-high three hits for the Bulldogs, and Ruddy drove in two runs.

In a game that featured 13 combined pitchers, Mason Kukowski picked up the win with three innings, only allowing one run. Jeffrey Peterson III (Windham, N.H.) was handed the loss, giving up two runs in three innings of work.

UMass Lowell returns to action to open up conference play with three games against UAlbany at the University of Rhode Island on March 21-22.