Box Score (PDF)

NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. – Trailing by one in the ninth, the UMass Lowell baseball team squandered an opportunity to score with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth, falling to Bryant 7-6 at the New England Baseball Complex.
 
The River Hawks (3-10) dropped their fourth straight game by one run as Matt Albanese and Brandon Bingel each hit two home runs to rally the Bulldogs (3-11) back from a 6-2 seventh inning deficit. Bryant scored three in the seventh before Bingel hit the go-ahead two-run shot in the eighth.
 
"We need to play 27 outs and finish games," said Head Coach Ken Harring. "We played better baseball today, but we need to play a complete ballgame. We are right at the cusp. Someone needs to make a play, make a pitch, or get a big hit. Someone will step up. We are close."
 
Freshman Andrew Ryan (Rochester, Mass.) struck out five over six innings while surrendering two earned runs on five hits but didn't pick up the decision despite a four run lead when he exited.
 
Down a run heading into the fourth, the River Hawks put their first two batters on as Ian Strom (Hopedale, Mass.) and Tyler Noe (Lynnfield, Mass.) each drew a walk from Bryant southpaw Jack Patterson. The Bulldogs turned to righty James Karinchak who gave up a single to right field by Brice Erickson (Leominster, Mass.) before Jimmy Ricoy (Lowell, Mass.) cleared the bases, sending a 1-0 fastball over the left field fence. The grand slam was his first homer of the season and fifth of his career.
 
Albanese got a run back for Bryant with a solo shot in the home half of the inning before the River Hawks added runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Erickson brought Strom around with a single to center before center fielder Geoff DeGroot (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) connected on his first career long ball, dispatching a 2-1 pitch to left.
 
The River Hawks opportunity was there in the ninth as Ricoy singled through the left side, Kelly Rooney (Upton, Mass.) drew a walk and DeGroot loaded the bases with a single of his own with one out. Junior Joe Consolmagno (Worcester, Mass.) and senior Danny Mendick (Rochester, N.Y.) couldn't knock in the tying run as Consolmagno lined out to left before Mendick sent a fly ball to left center on the first pitch for the games final out.
 
UMass Lowell will return to the diamond tomorrow when they play game two of a 10-game road swing at Northeastern at 3 p.m.