Friday, March 3 vs. Dayton (1 p.m.)
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RHP Nick Kuzia (0-1, 5.59 ERA) vs. RHP Austin Cline (0-2, 16.50 ERA)

Saturday, March 4 vs. Notre Dame (12:30 p.m.)
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RHP Colin Duffley (0-0, 4.15 ERA) vs. RHP Peter Solomon (1-0, 3.27 ERA)

Sunday, March 5 at NC State (1 p.m.)
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RHP Andrew Ryan (1-0, 4.22 ERA) vs. TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Twitter: @RiverHawkBB @RiverHawkNation

LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell baseball is back in North Carolina after a 2-1 record in the Tar Heel State at the Davidson Tournament last weekend. The River Hawks are taking place in the USA Baseball-Irish Classic, hosted by Notre Dame in Cary, N.C.

River Hawk Rewind
UMass Lowell defeated Fairleigh Dickinson, 12-9, and Lehigh, 3-2, in the final two games of the Davidson Tourney behind timely hitting and shutdown pitching improve to 3-4 on the season. Facing deficits of 5-0 and 8-4 against FDU, the River Hawks scored five runs in the eighth inning to take their first and only lead of the game at 12-9. Ben Prada (Laurel, Md.) and Colby Maiola (North Reading, Mass.) both homered in the inning, with Maiola's grand slam swinging the momentum. The River Hawks set a Division I program mark with four home runs in the contest. 

In the finale, Andrew Ryan (Rochester, Mass.) struck out eight over 7.2 and Michael Young (Chester, N.J.) drove in the deciding runs in the 3-2 victory. Over the weekend, Chris Sharpe (Burlington, Mass.) batted .462 with a three-run homer and Austin Young (Millbury, Mass.) batted .545 with his first career homer to be named the America East Rookie of the Week.

Leading the Flock
Sharpe paces the UMass Lowell offense with a .375 average, 12 hits, nine runs, four long balls, eight RBI and 30 total bases. The sophomore has also doubled four times and has one triple. The trio of Austin Young, Steve Passatempo (Medford, Mass.) and Russ Olive (Chelmsford, Mass.) have combined for 23 hits, 13 runs, 12 RBI and four home runs, as well.  On the hill, three pitchers have each picked up a win, with Nick Rand (Hyde Park, N.Y.) owning one and a team-high two saves. Nick Kuzia (Seymour, Conn.) and Ryan have struck out 11 and nine batters, respectively. As a team, the River Hawks are batting .258 and the staff is posting a 5.80 ERA. 

Scouting Dayton
The Flyers (2-4) enter the weekend on the trail of an 8-7 win against Georgetown on February 26 in Spartanburg, S.C. Connor Echols is off to a torrid start, batting .467 with 14 hits and six RBI. Three of Tate Hagan's six hits have cleared the outfield fence, while Nick Ryan has crossed the plate a team-high eight times. The pitching staff has produced wins from Tyler Henry and R.J. Wagner, while the duo of Austin Cline and Kevin Piersol pace the pitchers with seven strikeouts. Through six games, Dayton batters have a .297 and the staff has a 9.77 ERA.

Scouting Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish (1-6) have dropped four in a row and are being outscored 39-15 since their 12-10 win against Incarnate Word on February 18. Notre Dame takes on Maryland in its first game of the tournament on March 3, before clashing with the River Hawks. Jake Johnson has a .412 average with two doubles and two triples, while Kyle Fiala has hit two homer and driven in eight. On the mound, Peter Solomon has the lone win and carries his 3.27 ERA and 11 strikeouts into the weekend. The Irish are batting .245 and the pitchers have a combined 8.85 ERA. 

Scouting NC State
The No. 6 Wolfpack (5-3) fell in its last contest, 6-5, and play Rhode Island and Maryland before NC State's matinee with UMass Lowell. Josh Klemin sits atop the team with a .367 average with 11 hits and four doubles. A pair of players have hit two homers, and Will Wilson has registered a team-high eight RBI. On the mound, Staley Austin and Sean Adler have combined to only allow one earned run in 18.1 innings, with Adler winning two of his appearances. Mathieu Gauthier has made three appearances with 14 strikeouts in 10.1 innings. The Wolfpack is batting .274 and has a combined ERA of 3.55.

Series History
All three games mark the first time the schools are playing each other in the sport of baseball.

Sharpest Bat in the Lineup
With his hot start to 2017, Chris Sharpe is tied for ninth nationally with four home runs, and ranks 17th with a .938 slugging percentage. The outfielder has recorded five multi-hit games and is in the midst of a five game-hitting streak.

Power Surge
Through seven games, this year's offense has connected on 11 home runs and have delivered multiple home runs in three games, including a DI program-high four on February 25 against FDU. Last season, the River Hawks hit 23 homers with four multi-home run games. 

We're Going Streaking!
Austin Young and Passatempo have the longest streaks going for the River Hawks in the first seven games of the season. Young has a six-game hitting streak and has reached base in six games, while Passatempo has reached base safely in all seven contests.

Hangin' 11
The 11 runs against UConn marked the second consecutive season-opening win that the River Hawks crossed the plate 11 times. Last season, UMass Lowell defeated Nicholls State, 11-2, to begin 2016 1-0. It also marks the third time in DI that the River Hawks scored more than 10 runs in their first win of the season (14, vs. Temple, 2014).

Notables
Austin Young became the fifth River Hawk to be named AE Rookie of the Week (2.28) ... Olive earned River Hawk of the Week and America East Player of the Week accolades (2.21).