Box Score (PDF)

KINGSTON, R.I. – Senior third baseman Matthew Sanchez (Sunrise, Fla.) knocked in the lone run for the UMass Lowell baseball team as they dropped a non-conference bout, 8-1, to Rhode Island at Bill Beck Field on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Freshman Brendan Shea (Belmont, Mass.) made his first career start for the River Hawks (5-13, 1-2 America East), giving up one run on three hits over four innings. The loss drops the southpaw's record to 0-2 on the season while Rams (7-10-1, 1-2 Atlantic 10) sophomore pitcher Blaise Whitman upped his mark to 2-1.
 
The game teetered in the early going as both clubs failed to capitalize on their opportunities until the Rams struck with a run in the fourth before adding two more in the fifth off Chaz Kaps (Lake Worth, Fla.).
 
The River Hawks had a chance to draw even in the top of the fifth, but a line drive off the bat of Luke Reynolds (Manchester, N.H.) ricocheted off the glove of the Rams diving first baseman and right to Chris Hess at second base who threw Reynolds out at first with Whitman covering.
 
The River Hawks broke through in the sixth when Sanchez got his team on the board with a one out stand-up triple to right to bring Danny Mendick (Rochester, N.Y.) around and end Whitman's afternoon.
 
Taso Stathopoulos came in relief of the URI starter and picked up the final two outs to leave Sanchez stranded on third. The Rams broke the game open in the bottom half of the sixth by tacking on five runs to balloon a 3-1 lead to the eventual 8-1 final.
 
Rhode Island threatened in the second with two outs as they got a double down the third base line from Mike Sherburne before Shea hit Matt O'Neil. The two advanced on a double steal but Shea made a leaping grab on a chopper up the middle by Chase Livingston to end the Rams scoring threat and keep the game scoreless.
 
Mendick finished the afternoon 2-for-4 with a double and run scored.
 
The River Hawks return to America East action at Binghamton with one game Friday (3 p.m.) and a twin bill Saturday starting at noon.