Box Score (PDF)

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – The UMass Lowell (0-1) baseball team put together a later rally, but it was not enough as the UConn Huskies (1-0) pulled out a 5-3 victory in the season opener for both teams on Friday afternoon.
 
Russ Olive (Chelmsford, Mass.) connected on the River Hawk's first home run of the season, a solo shot in the ninth, to bring UMass Lowell within two, but  was able to close the door for the Huskies.
 
"We faced a really good pitcher out there today," remarked Head Coach Ken Harring. "I liked the way the guys competed through the game and never quit. We'll be ready to go tomorrow, hungry for that first win."

Trailing 4-0, the River Hawks were held off the scoreboard until the eighth when Chris Sharpe (Burlington, Mass.) doubled home Ben Prada (Laurel, Md.). The sophomore then scored on Colby Maiola's (North Reading, Mass.) first hit in a UMass Lowell uniform to cut the deficit in half.
 
UConn's Tim Cate earned the win with 14 strikeouts through 7.1 shutout innings. 

The Huskies scored single runs in five innings, taking a 1-0 lead in the second on a RBI double off the bat of Conor Moriarty. A wild pitch in the third and a home run in fifth provided a 3-0 buffer, and UConn was able to add to their lead in the sixth and ninth innings. Zac Susi finished the game with a home run and a triple with two RBI for the Huskies.
 
In his first opening day start, Nick Kuzia (Seymour, Conn.) struck out seven in five innings and was charged with three runs. 

Both teams are back in action tomorrow for a double header starting at 11 a.m. Luke Tomczyk (Chili, N.Y.) and Steve Xirinachs (San Diego, Calif.) are scheduled to take the mound for the River Hawks.