LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell baseball team took its second consecutive game, hanging on for the 9-8 win, to clinch the series against Maine on Sunday afternoon at LeLacheur Park.
Ben Prada (Laurel, Md.) wrapped up his impressive weekend with four RBI, two hits and two runs to lead the River Hawks (17-19, 8-7).
Russ Olive (Chelmsford, Mass.) became the second player in program history since joining Division I to reach double digit home runs in a single season, with his two-run blast in the first inning.
The junior also went 3-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored, to lead a group of six players with multiple hits on the day. The Black Bears (11-25, 6-6) only managed six hits, but drew nine walks and had a trio drive in two runs apiece.
The hosts got off to a quick start with a single on the second pitch of the game by
Colby Maiola (North Reading, Mass.), and five pitches later he crossed the plate on Prada's bloop single to center. Olive provided the big blast of the inning with his long ball off the scoreboard in right to make it a 3-0 advantage.
Maine was held off the scoreboard until the third, when Danny Casals sent the visitors first hit of the game into left to score a pair of runs. A RBI grounder cut the lead to 4-3, but the Black Bears could not continue the rally.
UMass Lowell jumped back for four runs in the bottom of the frame on two pop flies that the Maine leftfielder lost in the sun. With the bases loaded and two outs, Prada sent a towering fly that fell to clear the bases. Three pitchers later, Olive followed suit and sent his double to the fielder's left that was lost in the sun as well.
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Vinnie Martin (Lodi, N.J.) bases-loaded walk added a ninth run for the home team in the fourth, as the River Hawks added to the scoreboard in each of the first four frames.
In the fifth, the Black Bears found themselves in a bases-loaded, no-out threat but could only get one across on an error before a 6-4-3 double play ended the inning. A two-out, two-run double off the bat of Cody Pasic trimmed the deficit to 9-6 in the following frame, however.
Mark Tumosa was able to limit the damage with a diving grab at third to send the teams to the bottom of the sixth.
Maine added two more runs in the seventh to get within one run, but could not complete the comeback.
Dan Cunico (Sandyston, N.J.) picked up his third win of the season with two innings of shutout relief, and
Luke Tomczyk (Chili, N.Y.) earned his second straight save.
The River Hawks host ACC foe Boston College on April 24 at 4 p.m.
