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STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Freshman Steve Passatempo (Medford, Mass.) hit two homeruns and drove in 6 RBI as the UMass Lowell (1-1) baseball team split the opening day of the Mississippi State Tournament on Friday.

UMass Lowell defeated Nicholls State (4-2), 11-2, in game one, but fell to #17 Mississippi State (3-2) 4-2 in the night cap. 

"Andrew Ryan set the tone and pitched great today, and Strom's play at the plate changed momentum as Passatempo connected on his big hit," said Head Coach Ken Harring. "All of the freshman played well today, but we came up short in the second game. I'm proud of how well we competed all day, and we'll be ready to go again tomorrow."

In the afternoon game, the Colonels struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, following a single with a runner on third. Joe Consolmagno (Worcester, Mass.) started the fourth inning with a single, and after stealing second was driven in by freshman Chris Sharpe's (Burlington, Mass.) first collegiate double. Michael Young (Chester, N.J.) then walked, and Passatempo took the 1-0 pitch over the left field wall for the 4-1 advantage.

Nicholls State cut the defifcit to 4-2 in the eighth, but Tim Fallon (Huntingtown, Md.) shut the door and ended the threat. The River Hawks capped off the top of the ninth with seven runs off six hits and three errors. Passatempo drove in his fourth run of the game to make it 5-2, Oscar Marchena (Miami, Fla.) added his first career RBI, while Ian Strom (Hopedale, Mass.) and Zach Tower (Auburn, Mass.) both drove in two. 

Sophomore Andrew Ryan (Rochester, Mass.) spread out six hits over seven innings, only allowing one run, to earn the win. Dan Cunico pitched out of a jam in the ninth to seal the deal for the River Hawks. 

In the night cap, UMass Lowell fell behind 3-0 after a three-run third inning by the Buldogs, which turned out to be the difference of the game. The River Hawks did not get on the scoredboard until Passatempo connected on his second long ball of the day, scoring Young. 

In his first carrer start, junior Steve Xirinachs (San Diego, Calif.) threw five innings, striking out five and giving up two earned runs in the effort. 

Passatempo and Marchena led UMass Lowell with four and three hits, respectively, while Strom and Sharpe added two apiece. 

UMass Lowell is back in action tomorrow, Feb. 27, taking on the Bulldogs at 3:30 p.m.