Box Score (PDF) | Highlights

LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell baseball team reversed their fortunes in one run games as they walked-off in the 10^th on a double by Ian Strom (Hopedale, Mass.) to beat Maine, 4-3, at LeLacheur Park Saturday night.
 
"It's nice to see the kids feel good about themselves after being in so many of these games," said Head Coach Ken Harring. "Tonight, we reversed that trend."
 
The River Hawks (6-15, 2-4) snapped their three-game skid when Strom lined a slider from Logan Fulmer (0-1) down into the right field corner, just out of the reach of diving Black Bears (10-18, 1-5) outfielder Brian Doran to score Joe Consolmagno (Worcester, Mass.) from second and clear the dugout in celebration.
 
The drama in the final frame began on a single to right field by Consolmagno who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Danny Mendick (Rochester, N.Y.). Fulmer intentionally walked Matthew Sanchez (Sunrise, Fla.) looking for the force out against Strom, the River Hawks leader in batting average, who delivered the winning hit to give the team their first win in seven games decided by a run.
 
The River Hawks put three on the board in the first inning off Maine's Justin Courtney, starting with an RBI double down the left field line by Mendick to plate Consolmagno. Two batters later Jimmy Ricoy (Lowell, Mass.) added a two-RBI single to right to bring Sanchez and Mendick around.
 
Freshman Andrew Ryan (Rochester, Mass.) threw five scoreless innings before his lone blemish, which came when a run came in on a double play in the sixth by Maine shortstop Luke Morrill. Ryan gave up four hits and the one earned run over his six innings of work, but failed to pick up a decision after the Black Bears pulled even with a two-run seventh.
 
"For a freshman in his first conference start, I thought he did a really good job," said Harring. "I thought [he] battled, I didn't think he had his best stuff but he battled through some tough innings. He was efficient, got a couple double plays and set the tone."
 
Senior Christian Lavoie (Hopkinton, Mass.) was perfect in his two innings out of the bullpen for the River Hawks as he picked up his first win of the season, owning a 1-3 record in 2015.
 
The River Hawks and Black Bears will play a doubleheader to finish the series on Sunday. Game one is scheduled for a noon start.