LOWELL, Mass. -- The UMass Lowell baseball team closed out its season at LeLacheur Park, falling in both ends of a doubleheader to visiting Hartford on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Hawks secured game one by a score of 3-0, while the River Hawks rallied late in game two, facing a 7-5 setback.
 
Six different River Hawks logged at least two hits on the day. Sophomore Ryan Proto (Centerville, Mass.) led the charge with a .500 batting average on three tallies of his own, including two runs and two RBI. Freshman Roddy Hernandez (Jersey City, N.J.), senior Joey Castellanos (Nutley, N.J.) and redshirt-senior Cam Climo (Billerica, Mass.) each brought in one run, as well.
 
"A tough way to end it," commented Head Coach Ken Harring. "In game two, we just couldn't capitalize on some of the opportunities thrown our way. After a tough first game, it just didn't happen, but it wasn't for a lack of effort."
 
The River Hawks opened the game one hits in their first at-bat, using a single shot to center by sophomore Keagan Calero (Rochester, N.H.), however, the advance would be halted after a Hartford throw down to second. Breaking open the scoring in the second, the Hawks would close the inning on an RBI groundout to take a 1-0 jump.
 
Rookie Jimmy Sullivan (East Hampton, Conn.) made one of his signature pop-up catches to help keep the visitors from advancing, but a hard hit ball to left would give the Hawks a 2-0 lead through three complete.
 
Sullivan found a hole on the left side for the River Hawks' second hit of the contest in the bottom of the fourth, although the hosts were unable to scratch the run across. Hartford added one more in the fifth thanks to a dinger from Donnie Cohoon to seal the shutout 3-0.
 
In game two, the Hawks kept their momentum going, grabbing a 3-0 lead in their first at-bat thanks to a walk and back-to-back singles through the left side. Castellanos logged UMass Lowell's first base hit in the second, although a 6-4-3 double play would extinguish any chances of the River Hawks getting one across the board.
 
Hartford added one to its buffer in the third, and although the River Hawks put one in scoring position in the bottom of the inning and another in the fourth, the Hawks made the score 6-0 in the top of the fifth backed by a two-bagger out to left and an errant throw across the plate.

Climo sparked the River Hawk offense to life in the fifth, starting what would be a four-run rally with a two-out RBI double to left center. The hosts continued to battle, touching home on a two-run base hit to left by Proto and Castellanos' second triple of the series, closing the gap to just two at 6-4.

The Hawks maintained their two-run advantage until they got one back in the top of the seventh, scoring on an RBI double to right. UMass Lowell played their hand at retaliation in the bottom of the eighth, putting runners on second and third after sophomore Jonny Gilbride (Beverly, Mass.) was hit by a pitch and Calero sent one through the left side, however both were left stranded.
 
The River Hawks would not go quietly, though, extinguishing the Hawk's last chance at the plate backed by three Matt Draper (Lowell, Mass.) strikeouts. Making noise in their last at-bat, UMass Lowell would put two runners on after both Proto and sophomore Cedric Rose (Pittsfield, Mass.) held steady on full-count walks, although it would be Hernandez to tally the last run on a RBI single up the middle. The Hartford defense would collect on their next two opportunities, finalizing the decision 7-5.
 
Prior to the game, Joey Castellanos, John Polichetti, Vinnie Martin, Cam Climo, Devin Gates, Trevor Thompson, Henry Funaro and Collin Duffley were sent off with a special Senior Day ceremony.
 
"I just want to say how proud I am of this group of seniors," commented Harring. "Every single one of them has sacrificed to be here in the classroom, on the field, and in the community, this group has done everything that we've asked of them."