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STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Steve Passatempo (Medford, Mass.) drove in his seventh RBI of the weekend, but the UMass Lowell (1-2) baseball team fell short against #17 Mississippi State (5-2), 4-2 on Saturday afternoon.

The freshman continued his hot start by going 2-4 and driving in the River Hawks first run in the seventh inning. After the first three games of his career, Passatempo is batting .500 (6-12) with two home runs and seven RBI, he has also scored three runs.

"We had two bases loaded with one out opportunities and couldn't get that hit to change the game around," said Head Coach Ken Harring. "It's part of the learning curve for such a young team, but we stood toe to toe with a top-20 team and feel like we matchup talent wise. I'm encouraged by the way we competed in games like these in front of 9,000 people, this will only allow us to be better as the season goes on."

The Bulldogs built a 3-0 lead after four innings of play, capped by a two-run homer off the bat of Ryan Gridley in the fourth. Chris Sharpe (Burlington, Mass.) connected on his third double of the season to lead off the seventh, and came around to score off Passtempo's single.

In the top half of the eighth UMass Lowell loaded the bases with singles from Joe Consolmagno (Worcester, Mass.), Zach Tower (Auburn, Mass.) and Sharpe. Ryan Rigby shut down the inning with consecutive strike outs to end the threat. In the bottom of the frame, Jacob Robson tripled to center to bring home Ryan Gridley and increase the buffer to 4-1.

Consolmagno recorded his first RBI of the season, doubling in Oscar Marchena (Miami, Fla.) in the ninth, but Reid Humpreys recovered to record the save.

Tower went 3-for-4 with three singles, and Consolmagno added three hits in five atbats, as well.

Nick Kuzia (Seymour, Conn.) gave up three runs in 3 2/3 innings in his first start of the year, the sophomore struck out two batters as well. At the mound for the Bulldogs, Daniel Brown went 5 2/3 for the win, not allowing a run and striking out four. Rigby struck out five coming out of the bullpen.

UMass Lowell wraps up the Mississippi State Tournament Sunday afternoon, as freshman Ricky Constant (Nashua, N.H.) takes the hill against Nicholls State at 12 p.m.