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WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The UMass Lowell (18-28, 5-17) dropped the first game of its finale America East series, 23-6, to the Hartford Hawks (31-14, 11-7), on Friday afternoon.
 
Ian Strom (Hopedale, Mass.) and Steve Passatempo (Medford, Mass.) combined to give the River Hawks a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Strom led off the game with a double down the left field line, and two batters later the freshman drove him in with a deep sacrifice fly to right.
 
The Hawks scored nine unanswered runs, taking a 3-1 lead after one and adding three more in the bottom of the third and fourth innings.
 
The River Hawks were held off the scoreboard until the fifth inning, string together five hits to score four runs and cut the deficit to 9-5. With one out in the frame, Ben Prada (Laurel, Md.) singled, followed by a Strom hit by pitch and a Joe Consolmagno (Worcester, Mass.) single to load the bases.
 
Three straight RBI singles by Passatempo, Russ Olive (Chelmsford, Mass.) and Chris Sharpe (Burlington, Mass.) got UMass Lowell within 9-4. Oscar Marchena (Miami, Fla.) ended the string of hits, but drove in Passatempo with a grounder to short to wrap up the scoring and make it a four-run game.
 
Two bases-loaded walks and a three RBI double opened up a 14-5 buffer for the Hawks in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Marchena drove in his second run with a ground out in the ninth inning. Strom and Consolmagno each scored twice, with Passatempo and Marchena recording two RBI. Olive and Sharpe led the River Hawks with two hits.
 
UMass Lowell pitchers recorded eight strikeouts, paced by Steve Xirinachs (San Diego, Calif.) with three, and Dan Cunico's (Sandyston, N.J.) two.
 
TJ Ward and Erik Ostberg did most of the damage for the hosts, driving in seven and five, respectively. David MacKinnon and Chris DelDebbio each scored five runs.
 
The teams get back at it tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. Nick Kuzia (Seymour, Conn.) takes the mound and game one, with Andrew Ryan (Rochester, Mass.) toeing the rubber in the series finale.