Game One Box (PDF) | Game Two Box (PDF) | Highlights

LOWELL, Mass. – Steve Xirinachs (San Diego, Calif.) earned his first career win as a starter, as the UMass Lowell (17-18, 5-9) baseball team split a doubleheader with the UAlbany Great Danes (15-20, 4-7) on Saturday at LeLacheur Park.
 
The visitors took game one, 5-2, and behind Xirinachs' 5.1 innings of one-run ball the hosts took the final game, 6-1.
 
"Game one was tough to swallow," said Head Coach Ken Harring. "We just didn't execute, made some mistakes. We're a young team, some of the stuff we have to patient with. To come back in game two against a pitcher whose dominated us over the past two years is pretty satisfying. We kept grinding and took care of opportunities when they came and scratched out a win."
 
Game Two
 Trailing 1-0 in the fifth inning, the River Hawks scored three runs in the frame to take their first lead of the day. Mark Tumosa (Willington, Conn.) started the rally with a single, followed by infield singles by Ian Strom (Hopedale, Mass.) and Oscar Marchena (Miami, Fla.) to load the bases.
 
Joe Consolmagno (Worcester, Mass.) tied the game with a single that dropped in front of the left fielder, and Steve Passatempo (Medford, Mass.) walked on four pitches to push UMass Lowell on top, 2-1. Michael Young (Chester, N.J.) ripped a single to left to score Marchena and extend the gap to 3-1.
 
The River Hawks added three more runs in the sixth behind Consolmagno driving in two and a RBI single from Young.
 
Xirinachs allowed five hits and one earned run on the day, and struck out two batters. Cam Lanzilli (Stoneham, Mass.) ended a one-out jam in the sixth, and Brendan Long (Naples, Fla.) closed out the seventh.
 
Chris Sharpe (Burlington, Mass.) ended the game catching a line drive in the left-center gap, and doubling the lead runner off of second.
 
Game One
The Great Danes took an early 1-0 lead in the third, and after Oscar Marchena (Miami, Fla.) knotted the score on a RBI ground out in the bottom of the frame, added another run in the fourth to regain their lead at 2-1.
 
Consolmagno tripled to lead off the third and came across to score with the grounder to second from Marchena.
 
Trailing 3-1 in the seventh, Russ Olive (Chelmsford, Mass.) and Zack Tower (Auburn, Mass.) led off the frame with singles, and Olive scored on a grounder by Prada.
 
Consolmagno led the way in game one going 3-for-4, and Olive added a pair.
 
UAlbany added two insurance runs in the ninth to hold on for the win for starter Brendan Ryan. Ryan went six innings, allowing two runs on five hits, and struck out six for his fourth win of the season.
 
Both teams take the diamond in the rubber game on April 24, with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. The River Hawks will hold their Cancer Awareness game and will have a pre-game presentation and ceremonial first pitch.