Box Score (PDF)
STARKVILLE, Miss. – A six-run third inning powered the UMass Lowell (2-2) baseball team to a 9-6 victory against Nicholls State (4-4) on Sunday afternoon.
Steve Passatempo (Medford, Mass.) provided the heroics, connecting on his first career grand slam in the inning, giving the River Hawks a 5-1 advantage. Two batters later, Zach Tower (Auburn, Mass.) extended the lead to 6-1 on his first homerun of the season.
In his first weekend of collegiate ball, the freshman led the River Hawks with three homeruns and 11 RBI.
"This was a great first weekend," said Head Coach
Ken Harring. "Passatempo put us on his back throughout, and I have never seen a freshman make such a big impact.
Kendall Pomeroy came in and did a great job settling the game down on the mound. We have a long way to go, but I think this ball club can be special."
Ben Prada (Laurel, Md.) started the rally with a one out walk and then stole both second and third, before
Oscar Marchena (Miami, Fla.) walked. A wild pitch scored Prada and advanced Marchena to second to knot up the game at 1-1.
Joe Consolmagno (Worcester, Mass.) walked and
Ian Strom singled to load the bases for Passatempo. Tower took the second pitch he saw over the left field fence to chase the Colonels' starter.
Nicholls State got back two runs in the top of the fourth on a fielder's choice and an error. Marchena gave the River Hawks a 7-3 lead in the next frame with a sacrifice fly. Consolmagno singled home a run in the sixth, and
Tyler Noe (Lynnfield, Mass.) singled home the final run in the seventh to extend the buffer to 9-3.
Nicholls State loaded the bases in the ninth and trimmed the deficit to 9-6 before
Brendan Long earned his first save in a UMass Lowell uniform.
Kendall Pomeroy (Shrewsbury, Mass.) pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief to record the first win of his career. The freshman struck out two and only allowed four hits.
Consolmagno, Strom, Passatempo, Tower and
Andy Savard (Tyngsboro, Mass.) all registered two hits apiece, and Savard scored two runs.
UMass Lowell returns to action from March 4-6 at the Bob Hannah Invitational, hosted by Delaware. The River Hawks play two games against the Blue Hens, and a pair against Delaware State.
