Box Score (PDF) | Highlights

LOWELL, Mass. – A three-run fifth inning was the difference as the UMass Lowell (16-17) baseball team dropped a non-conference matchup to the UConn Huskies (20-16), 4-2, under the lights of LeLacheur Park on Wednesday night.
 
"I take no solace in coming close," said Head Coach Ken Harring. "As a transition team you measure yourself up against the best teams in New England and that one inning killed us. If we don't balk we're out of that inning with one run and maybe we're sitting here talking about something different, but that's baseball. I'm proud of the effort and we've got good players working their tails off for us and gaining experience.
 
Russ Olive (Chelmsford, Mass.) gave the River Hawks a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning, singling to left to bring home Chris Sharpe (Burlington, Mass.) from second. The left fielder led off the frame with a single and later stole second, his fifth swipe of the season.
 
UConn put up three runs in the fifth to take control of a 3-1 ballgame. John Toppa knotted the score at 1-1 with a one-out single to score Tyler Gnesda, who singled to start the inning. Toppa crossed the plate from third after Ian Strom (Hopedale, Mass.) made a tremendous diving catch in center.
 
UMass Lowell got one back in the seventh with a two-out rally sparked by Ben Prada's (Laurel, Md.) single up the middle. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and Joe Consolmagno (Worcester, Mass.) snuck a ball into right to trim the deficit to 3-2.
 
The Huskies scored an insurance run in the top of the eighth following a leadoff double from Bobby Melley.
 
Strom went 3-for 4, while Consolmagno reached base three times including two walks off his cousin, UConn starter Jack Riley. Kevin Veilleux (Manchester, Mass.) struck out four in 4.2 innings, allowing one earned run in the loss.
 
Riley picked up the win for the guests, going five full innings, recording five strikeouts and allowing only one run.
 
The River Hawks head back into conference play with a three-game series against UAlbany at LeLacheur from April 23-24.