Game 1 (PDF) | Game 2 (PDF)

BALTIMORE, Md. – The UMass Lowell baseball team (20-15, 8-5 AE) hit three home runs in a 6-2 game one victory, before the UMBC Retrievers (12-17, 6-5 AE) took game two, 5-2, to earn a split in the America East doubleheader on Friday.
 
Colby Maiola (North Reading, Mass.) led the River Hawks with two home runs and three RBI on the day, while Cam Climo (Billerica, Mass.) and Steve Passatempo (Medford, Mass.) both homered and drove in a pair on the day.

"Today was a real gritty effort from the guys and I'm proud of what of we did but just didn't hit in game two," remarked Head Coach Ken Harring. "We have the opportunity to win another series tomorrow and we're looking forward to it. Nick Kuzia was awesome today, and it was great to see him respond the way he did. Again, I'm really proud of the effort and put forth and we're excited to get back out there tomorrow."

The win marked the third time that UMass Lowell has reached the 20-win plateau in a season since joining Division I, as the River Hawks accomplished the feat in 2014 and 2016, as well. 
 
After each starter began game one with a perfect first inning, Maiola launched the first pitch of the second over the wall in center for a 1-0 lead. Climo recorded a two-out double to keep the inning alive, and came around to score on a fielding error by the left fielder with John Polichetti (Atkinson, N.H.) at the plate.
 
The Retrievers bounced back to knot up the score on a two-out, two run triple in the bottom of the second, as Raven Beeman made up for his error in left.
 
Climo put the River Hawks back on top for good with a two-run homer in the fourth inning, scoring Nick Barry (Grafton, Mass.).
 
UMass Lowell added an insurance run in the fifth following a pair of doubles from Ben Prada (Laurel, Md.) and Maiola. The shortstop led off the frame with his two-bagger, and came around to score on Maiola's two-out double to left center, for his second RBI of the game.
 
Passatempo capped off the scoring in game one with a solo home run to left in the seventh.
 
On the mound for the River Hawks, Nick Kuzia (Seymour, Conn.) dazzled the UMBC lineup through 7.1 innings, only allowing the two unearned runs and striking out seven to pick up the win. Luke Tomczyk (Chili, N.Y.) and Nick Ran (Hyde Park, N.Y.) combined to pitch the final 1.2 innings and close out the Retrievers.
 
UMBC split the doubleheader with a three-run sixth and a strong performance from starter Matt Chanin. With the night cap knotted at two, the Retrievers took a 3-2 lead on a bunt single, and added insurance with a two-run double from the next batter.
 
UMass Lowell scored first in game two, as Passatempo sent home Prada on a groundout, following Prada's leadoff double in the first.
 
UMBC rattled off three doubles in the bottom of the frame to take a 2-1 lead, including back-to-back two-baggers with two outs.
 
Maiola connected on his second long ball of the day, tying the game with a solo homer to right in the top of the fourth.
 
The Retrievers were the victims of two base running blunders, as they had a runner thrown out at home trying to score from second on a wild pitch and a runner tagged out after rounding third, in the third and fifth innings, respectively.
 
Both teams will take the field for the rubber game tomorrow at 2 p.m.