TUCSON, Ariz. – The UMass Lowell baseball team began the 2019 season with a 12-4 setback to Arizona on Friday night at Hi Corbett Field.
 
Steven Passatempo (Medford, Mass.) began his senior season for the River Hawks (0-1) connecting on a home run and scoring two, while Cam Climo (Billerica, Mass.) recorded two doubles and scored twice as well.
 
"We need to play better," commented Head Coach Ken Harring. "When you walk 11 it's tough to compete. We got some of the opening day jitters out of the way and I expect the team to be better tomorrow."
 
The Wildcats (1-0) jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first, behind a three-run home run with one out after the first three batters reached.
 
UMass Lowell scored the next three runs beginning with one in the second following Climo reaching on a double and advancing to third on the throw. The junior crossed the plate on a throwing error for the River Hawks first run of the season.
 
Climo helped spark a two-run fourth inning with his second double of the contest that moved Passatempo to third after his four-pitch walk. Vinnie Martin (Lodi, N.J.) and Ted Leathersich (Beverly, Mass.) brought in runs on a sacrifice fly and single, respectively, to cut the Arizona lead to 4-3.
 
The hosts responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth to open up their 8-3 advantage.
 
Passatempo added his 27th career home run in the eighth inning to move into a tie for third all-time in program history.
 
Both teams continue the four-game set with a pair tomorrow starting at 3 p.m. Henry Funaro (Lowell, Mass.) and Connor Metelski (Wall Township, N.J.) will take the mound for the River Hawks.