Box Score (PDF) | Interview

WEST P­­OINT, N.Y. – Oscar Marchena (Miami, Fla.) went 3-for-5 with 2 RBI and a run scored to lead the UMass Lowell (11-13) baseball team to 7-5 win over the Army West Point Black Knights (10-18) in a back-and-forth game at Doubleday Field on Tuesday afternoon.

"I thought we pitched well today from Kevin Veilleux all the way down," said Head Coach Ken Harring. "We were a victim of a few defensive mistakes but when you get pitching like we did and timely hits it works out. I thought that was the best we swung the bats in a couple weeks, and we keep on saying we're going to have ups and downs with such a young team, but today was definitely a step forward. The guys are working hard and the effort is there, and it's nice to come to such a historic place and get a good win."

Trailing 4-3 heading into the sixth, the River Hawks scored four runs to open up a 7-4 lead. Marchena recorded his third hit and became the fourth consecutive UMass Lowell leadoff hitter to reach with a single to center. Ben Prada (Laurel, Md.) advanced Marchena to third on a single to right, and Joe Consolmagno (Worcester, Mass.) ripped a sacrifice fly to right.

After an Ian Strom (Hopedale, Mass.) walked to lad the bases, back-to-back RBI singles by Steve Passatempo (Medford, Mass.) and Russ Olive (Chelmsford, Mass.) regained the lead for the guests at 6-4.

Zack Tower (Auburn, Mass.) was hit in the arm to bring home Passatempo for the 7-4 advantage and final run of the frame. UMass Lowell batted around in the inning, and Marchena almost recorded his second hit of the inning, but lined out to shortstop for the third out.

Kendall Pomeroy (Shrewsbury, Mass.) improved to 4-0 and teamed up with Collin Duffley (Manchester, N.H.) and Dan Cunico (Sandyston, N.J.) to allow one run in 3.1 with five strikeouts to pave the way for Brendan Long's (Naples, Fla.) sixth save of the season.

The Black Knights stuck first on their home diamond, behind an error, a pair of hits and a sacrifice fly to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first off of Kevin Veilleux (Manchester, N.H.). The deficit did not last long as Marchena delivered a two-RBI single just off the third baseman's glove to knot up the score 2-2 in the top of the second.

Chris Sharpe (Burlington, Mass.) started the rally with a one-out single, and pair of fielder's choices with a wild pitch had Sharpe on third and Andy Savard (Tyngsboro, Mass.) on second for Marchena. The single took a high hop on the infield grass and just nicked off the glove of the leaping third baseman.

UMass Lowell took a 3-2 lead the the top of fourth after Joe Consolmagno (Worcester, Mass.) was hit in the arm with the bases loaded and two outs. Sharpe was hit to lead off the inning, and after back-to-back strikeouts for Patrick Gardner, Marchena singled to right and Ben Prada (Laurel, Md.) walked to load the bases.  

Army West Point scored one run in the fourth and David Monge hit a solo home run over the wall in left for the 4-3 advantage in the fifth.

Veilleux tied his career high with five strikeouts in 4.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits.  

Sharpe reached four times in the contest on a hit, fielder's choice, walk and was hit by a pitch. Consolmagno drove in two runs without a hit, and both Passatempo and Olive added two hits apiece.

UMass Lowell hosts the Brown Bears tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at LeLacheur Park. Ricky Constant (Nashua, N.H.) will take the hill for the River Hawks.