LOWELL, Mass. – Behind a combined one-hitter and back-to-back home runs, the UMass Lowell baseball team picked up a win in its home opener, with a 3-1 victory in the series opener against UMBC.
 
Henry Funaro (Lowell, Mass.) and Nick Rand (Hyde Park, N.Y.) combined for 16 strikeouts, a program high since joining Division I, and just two shy of tying the all-time mark. Funaro set a career high with nine strikeouts, and between the seventh and eighth frames Rand had five in six batters.
 
The River Hawks (13-17, 4-6) did not take long to jump on UMBC's starter, as Mark Tumosa (Willington, Conn.) and Russ Olive (Chelmsford, Mass.) went back-to-back in the bottom of the first.
 
After Colby Maiola (North Reading, Mass.) led off the frame with a free pass, Tumosa sent the first pitch he saw past the scoreboard in left. Olive followed up that effort with a shot off the scoreboard, putting the hosts up 3-0.
 
The Retrievers (10-16, 4-3) were held scoreless and hitless into the fourth inning, as Funaro picked up six strikeouts in the first three frames.
 
In UMBC's fourth, the first four batters reached and the visitors' only run crossed the plate on an error. The Retrievers picked up their first hit and a walk loaded the bases with no outs, but a failed squeeze attempt slowed down the threat. Funaro escaped the jam with only one run with his eighth strikeout.
 
UMass Lowell pitchers have now pitched two one-hitters in 2018, the first coming back on March 17 against Morehead State, a 2-1 win.
 
The teams will wrap up their series with a doubleheader tomorrow, beginning at 11 a.m.