Box Score (PDF) | Harring Interview | Photos

CARY, N.C. – Collin Duffley (Manchester, N.H.) struck out a career-high eight batters and Steve Passatempo (Medford, Mass.) drove in four as the UMass Lowell (4-5) baseball team blanked the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1-7), 8-0, in game two of the USA Baseball-Irish Classic.
 
Duffley picked up his first win as a starter, scattering three hits in seven hitters and didn't have a runner advance past second.

"Obviously the tone was set with Colin Duffley early, and when you get a start like that with some early runs it gives you confidence," remarked Head Coach Ken Harring." I thought everyone in the lineup put together quality at bats and I'm so proud of the performance Duffley gave us out there today, it was tremendous." 
 
The River Hawks drew first blood in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly from Austin Young (Millbury, Mass.) to score Chris Sharpe (Burlington, Mass.), who led off the game with a walk and stole second.
 
Passatempo extended the buffer to 3-0 with a two-run shot in the third, the sophomore's first homer of the season. Colby Maiola (North Reading, Mass.) worked a one-out walk and was standing at first as Passtempo stepped to the plate.
 
As Duffley cruised through the Fighting Irish lineup he tied his previous personal best with four strikeouts after three innings. The sophomore recorded multiple strikeouts in two innings and only walked two.
 
Passatempo picked up two more RBI in the seventh as he singled of the third baseman's glove with runners on second and third and one out. Ben Prada (Laurel, Md.) and Sharpe singled to begin the frame, and Oscar Marchena (Miami, Fla.) placed down a perfect sacrifice bunt to set Passatempo up.
 
UMass Lowell scored a pair of runs in the ninth off Russ Olive (Chelmsford, Mass.) and Maiola drew bases-loaded walks.
 
Sharpe scored three times while both Passatempo and Marchena crossed the plate twice. The combo of Luke Tomczyk (Chili, N.Y.) and Nick Rand (Hyde Park, N.Y.) struck out four batters in the final two innings to seal the win.
 
The River Hawks wrap up the weekend with a 1 p.m. tilt at No. 6 NC State on Sunday afternoon.