LOWELL, Mass. -- The UMass Lowell baseball team (6-11, 5-3 AE) split its home-opening doubleheader against NJIT (3-12, 3-7 AE) on Friday afternoon at LeLacheur Park. The River Hawks won the first game, 8-1, but went on to drop the second, 17-4.
 
Three different River Hawks recorded home runs to defeat the Highlanders in game one. However, it was redshirt-senior Cam Climo (Billerica, Mass.) who tallied a three-run homer in the sixth to seal the deal. Junior Robert Gallagher (Mullica Hill, N.J.) went 2-for-4 with two RBI, while senior Joey Castellanos (Nutley, N.J.) was 1-for-2 with two runs scored.
 
Castellanos started the scoring for the River Hawks with the first home run tally of the day in the bottom of the first. Junior Gerry Siracusa (Kinnelon, N.J.) would add to the total, doubling to center field to push senior Vinnie Martin (Lodi, N.J.) across the plate and put the home team up, 2-0.
 
The River Hawks would add another in the bottom of the second from sophomore catcher Ryan Proto (Centerville, Mass.), following back-to-back errors from the Highlanders. However, the visitors would answer in the third on a UMass Lowell miscue, cutting the deficit 3-1.
 
Gallagher went yard in the fourth to bring the River Hawk total to five, bringing in sophomore Johnny Gilbride (Beverly, Mass.), who was previously walked.
 
After a bout of silence from both sides, the home team would make their final strike in the sixth on Climo's long ball. Back-to-back walks for Castellanos and Martin would put them in scoring position, as Climo sent one to left to seal the 8-1 outcome.
 
Junior right-handed pitcher Joshua Becker (Burlington, Mass.) tossed the full seven in the circle for the River Hawks. He earned the win on five strikeouts, allowing just one run on two hits.
 
The Highlanders came back with a vengeance in game two, producing 17 runs on 17 hits. NJIT recorded three doubles and one triple to grab the day-ending victory.
 
UMass Lowell saw their eight hits off of five different batters. Siracusa led the way with three hits and two RBI.
 
NJIT struck early with four runs in the top of the second, followed by three more in the fourth. Their final barrage would come in the eighth on a seven-run rally.
 
The River Hawks combined for four hits in the bottom of the eighth for a last-ditch effort. A Siracusa double would bring in Climo and sophomore Jiovel Lantigua (Spring Hill, Fla.). 
 
Sophomore Cedric Rose (Pittsfield, Mass.) would follow with a single up the middle to set Siracusa up at third. Freshman Jimmy Sullivan (East Hampton, Conn.) then punched a double down the left field line to plate Siracusa for UMass Lowell's third tally. To cap the River Hawks off, Gilbride would force a double play to send Rose home.
 
For NJIT, sophomore pitcher Ryan Fischer pitched seven shutout innings, striking out seven and walking one.
 
Starting pitcher junior Matt Draper (Lowell, Mass.) suffered the loss for the River Hawks, pitching 3.2 innings and allowing seven runs on 11 hits and one walk. He struck out six.
 
Both teams are back at it again tomorrow to finish out the series with another doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.