Game 1 Box  | Game 2 Box | Highlights

LOWELL, Mass.— Nick Kuzia (Seymour, Conn.) stuck out a career-high eight batters on his way to his first career complete game in game one, as the UMass Lowell (8-7) baseball team split a doubleheader with the NYIT Bears (7-9) on Sunday afternoon.

Behind Kuzia's performance the River Hawks won the first game, 8-0, but fell in the series finale 8-2.

UMass Lowell took a 2-0 lead in the first inning behind a wild pitch and a Chris Sharpe sacrifice fly. Joe Consolmagno (Worcester, Mass.) added to the lead with a RBI single in the fourth, and Zack Tower (Auburn, Mass.) sparked a five-run fifth inning with a double to score Andy Savard (Tyngsboro, Mass.) and Sharpe.

Tower scored in the inning off a RBI groundout from Ben Prada (Laurel, Md.), followed by two wild pitches that brought home Tyler Noe (Lynnfield, Mass.) and Consolmagno.

Kuzia gave up one hit in the second inning and didn't allow another until the seventh, both singles, and only faced 30 batters. Consolmagno supported his pitcher with three hits and two runs, along with a RBI. Strom and Tower added two hits apiece.

The Bears took control of game two with six runs in the first three innings, en route to the 8-2 victory. The River Hawks chipped into the deficit with two runs in the fourth but could not get any closer.

Consolmagno started the inning with a walk and advanced to third on a double by Strom, later scoring on a groundout by Steve Passatempo (Medford, Mass.). Tower drove in Strom with a single to left.

NYIT's David Plotkin completed all seven innings and spread out four hits and struck out five. Joe Daru led the way at the plate with four hits, three RBI and three runs.

The River Hawks are back in action on March 23 for a mid-week contest at Holy Cross, first pitch is set for 5 p.m.