Box Score (PDF)

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Junior Colby Maiola (North Reading, Mass.) hit a grand slam in a five-run eighth inning, as the UMass Lowell (2-4) baseball team completed the comeback and knocked off Fairleigh Dickinson (0-5), 12-9, on Saturday afternoon.
 
With the River Hawks trailing 9-7 in the eighth after Ben Prada's (Laurel, Md.) first career home run, three walks loaded the bases for Maiola with one out and the junior did not let the moment pass by.
 
The blast gave UMass Lowell its first lead of the game and set a new Division I program mark with four home runs in a single contest.

"It was one of those days when the pitching just isn't there, but the offense was able to step up every time we needed it," remarked Head Coach Ken Harring. "Every guy in the lineup contributed and the bullpen was able to settle down FDU's attack and get the win. When teams are thirsty for a win, you'll see them fight everything and today was that type of game, but it shows the heart and determination of the guys we have here."
 
In the top of the ninth, the Knights loaded the bases with one out but Nick Rand (Hyde Park, N.Y.) induced a double play to seal the victory.
 
Maiola and Chris Sharpe (Burlington, Mass.) combined for seven RBI and three runs scored, while Steve Passatempo (Medford, Mass.), Austin Young (Millbury, Mass.) and Prada each drove in two and scored twice. Passatempo led UMass Lowell with three hits, while four players had two apiece.
 
Fairleigh Dickinson built a 5-0 advantage with a pair of runs in the second and third innings, capped by a two-run home run off the bat of Ryan Brennan.
 
Still down by five in the bottom of the fourth, Austin Young connected on his first career homer, a two-run shot, to cut the deficit to 5-2 and score Passatempo. As the inning continued, Cam Climo (Billerica, Mass.) and Prada both doubled to bring the River Hawks within 5-3.
 
After the Knights extended the buffer to 6-3, the River Hawks had the bases loaded with one out in the fifth, but could only score one off a John Polichetti (Atkinson, N.H.) sacrifice fly.
 
Another two-run shot for Fairleigh Dickinson brought the game back to a four-run difference, 8-4, in the top of the sixth.
 
Sharpe brought UMass Lowell within one run with one swing of the bat in the seventh. With Nick Barry (Grafton, Mass.) and Prada reaching on an error and walk, respectively, Sharpe stepped to the plate and connected on his fourth homer of the season.
 
UMass Lowell wraps up the Davidson Tournament with a 10 a.m. first pitch against Lehigh tomorrow morning. Andrew Ryan (Rochester, Mass.) will take the hill looking for his first win of the season.