ORONO, Maine – A four-run seventh inning was the difference, as the UMass Lowell (17-23, 5-13) baseball team fell, 7-4, in the series finale to the Maine Black Bears (15-27, 5-9).
 
"It was just one of those games where we played well early but couldn't capitalize on opportunities to put away the game," said Head Coach Ken Harring. "To get off this skid we're on we almost have to play perfect ball, and we didn't today. It's to get mad at the bullpen since they've been good all year long."
 
The River Hawks entered the inning leading 4-2, but one out Maine's Lou Della Fera connected on a three-run homer to right to push the hosts back in front, 5-4. A sacrifice fly later in the inning gave the Black Bears an insurance run and a 6-4 advantage.
 
The Black Bears took a quick 1-0 lead with a two-out single in the bottom of the first, but Steve Passatempo (Medford, Mass.) erased the deficit with a solo shot to left field, his ninth home run of the season, in the third inning.
 
After a Maine solo homer in the bottom of the fourth, UMass Lowell rallied for two runs in the fifth to take its first lead of the weekend. Joe Consolmagno (Worcester, Mass.) began the inning by reaching on a misplayed fly ball to the right fielder, and Passatempo walked. After a wild pitch, Russ Olive (Chelmsford, Mass.) evened the score at 2-2 with a groundout to second. Oscar Marchena (Miami, Fla.) delivered the key hit with a RBI single that bounced off the third baseman's glove for the 3-2 advantage.
 
Ian Strom (Hopedale, Mass.) continued his hot series with a RBI single in the sixth to score Ben Prada (Laurel, Mass.), who doubled to lead off, for the two-run buffer. 
 
Tyler Noe (Lynnfield, Mass.) reached base in his first three appearances; with a walk, hit-by-pitch and a perfectly executed bunt single. Nick Kuzia (Seymour, Conn.) struck out four over 5.2 innings, only allowing two runs. Behind the plate, Nick Barry (Grafton, Mass.) threw out all three possible base stealers on the day. 
 
Eddie Emerson picked up the win for Maine, allowing one run in 2.1 innings of relief, and Nick Silva earned the save.
 
The River Hawks are back in action at LeLacheur Park, hosting the UMBC Retrievers in the final home series of the season. Sunday, May 8, will be Senior Day for the squad.