Saturday, April 8 vs. UAlbany (12 p.m.)
Live Stats
RHP Andrew Ryan (2-2, 3.68 ERA) vs. Jack McClure (3-0, 2.05 ERA)

Saturday, April 8 vs. UAlbany (3 p.m.)
Live Stats
RHP Collin Duffley (4-1, 1.73 ERA) vs. Kenny McClean (1-2, 6.75)

Sunday, April 9 vs. UAlbany (12 p.m.)
RHP Steve Xirinachs (1-2, 7.04 ERA) vs. David Hutchinson (1-1, 4.74 ERA)
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Twitter: @RiverHawkBB @RiverHawkNation

LOWELL, Mass. – After having its first eight home contests postponed or moved, the UMass Lowell baseball team will entertain the UAlbany Great Danes for the team's first games at LeLacheur Park this season. As this series was originally scheduled to be played in Albany, the River Hawks will act as the road team for all three games. 

River Hawk Rewind
The River Hawks took two out of three from Maine from March 31-April 2, including UMass Lowell's first America East conference doubleheader sweep since 2015, before dropping the series finale. In the game one victory, Steve Passatempo (Medford, Mass.) launched a two-run home run in the sixth inning to put the River Hawks ahead in the sixth inning after the Black Bears took a 3-2 lead. In the twin bill finale, Collin Duffley (Manchester, N.H.) struck out 10 batters in his complete-game shutout, scattering three hits and not allowing a walk. His 10 Ks tied the program's DI single-game mark en route to earning the America East Pitcher of the Week award. Oscar Marchena (Miami, Fla.) connected on his first career homer in the first inning of the series finale. 

Leading the Flock
Chris Sharpe (Burlington, Mass.) paces the UMass Lowell offense with a .359 average, 33 hits, 24 runs, six long balls and 62 total bases. The sophomore has also doubled 10 times and has three triples with a .728 slugging percentage and 16 RBI, while Colby Maiola (North Reading, Mass.) leads the team with 19 RBI. The trio of Austin Young (Millbury, Mass.), Passatempo and Maiola have combined for 75 hits, 44 RBI, 43 runs and six home runs, as well.  On the hill, Duffley leads the team with his four wins, while Nick Rand (Hyde Park, N.Y.) has a team-high six saves. Duffley leads the staff with 44 strikeouts and a 1.73 ERA, as well. As a team, the River Hawks are batting .254 and the staff is posting a 4.24 ERA.

Scouting UAlbany
The Great Danes (9-11, 2-4) are 2-6 in their last eight games including a two-game skid after dropping the final contests in their conference series at Stony Brook to begin April. Evan Harasta sits atop the team with a .319 average with 23 hits, while his 11 RBI are third-most in the lineup. Marc Wangenstein leads the squad with four homers and Kevin Donati has a team-high 13 RBI. On the mound, Jack McClure has a 2.05 ERA and three wins to pace the staff, while Brendan Smith has recorded 23 strikeouts. As a team, UAlbany has a .261 batting average and a 6.18 ERA.

Series History
The River Hawks are 6-9 all-time against the Great Danes, following UAlbany taking two of three from UMass Lowell last season.

Put Me In Coach!
In the latest NEIBA Division I Coaches Poll, the River Hawks are in the ranked fourth, trailing Dartmouth, UConn and Rhode Island.

Mai, oh Mai
Colby Maiola leads the team with six multi-RBI games and has recorded at least two hits in five games. The juco transfer has connected on the team's only grand slam this season and is second on the team with nine extra-base hits. 

Bullpen Magic
In the River Hawks' five-game winning steak, the bullpen allowed seven runs, five earned, in 19.1 innings with pitchers combining for 20 strikeouts. 

Sharpest Bat in the Lineup
With his hot start to 2017, Chris Sharpe has hit the ninth most home runs in the country, and ranks 14th with a .827 slugging percentage. The outfielder has recorded nine multi-hit games and four multi-RBI games.

Power Surge
Through 23 games, this year's offense has connected on 22 home runs and have delivered multiple home runs in five 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!
Current hitting streak - Austin Young, 7 games
Current on base streak - Chris Sharpe, 13 games
Season high hitting streak - Three players, 7 games
Season high on base streak - Steve Passatempo, 13 games

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
Duffley picked up his first career America East Pitcher of the Week award (4.4) ... Polichetti was named America East Rookie of the Week for the second straight week (3.21) ... Sharpe and Polichetti were named the America East Player and Rookie of the Week, respectively (3.14) ... 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).