LOWELL, Mass. – Postseason baseball has returned as the #5 UMass Lowell baseball team (19-33, 11-13 AE) will take on the #4 Bryant Bulldogs (26-23, 12-12 AE) in the opening round of the America East Championship. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 24 at the host site Binghamton Sports Complex.
 
#5 UMass Lowell vs. #4 Bryant
 
Wednesday, May 24 – 1:00 p.m.
 
Bearcats Sports Complex (Vestal, N.Y.)
 
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SEASON SERIES
The River Hawks went 3-0 against the Bulldogs this season, sweeping the series in Lowell on April 7-9. UMass Lowell outscored Bryant 42-16 in three games and have won five straight contests dating back to the 2019 season. Bryant's last victory against UMass Lowell came on May 17, 2016, a 15-4 win in Lowell.
 
LOOKING AT UMASS LOWELL
The River Hawks went 2-2 in the final week of the regular season, falling to Northeastern before taking two of three from Binghamton to close out conference play. The River Hawks dropped game one but bounced back with back-to-back wins heading into postseason play.
 
Fritz Genther leads the team batting .322 in 48 games this season with a team-high eight home runs and 43 RBIs. Genther has added 39 runs and 55 hits, including 13 doubles and one triple. Jacob Humphrey has found a rhythm late in the season and is now hitting .319 on the year. Humphrey leads the team with 52 runs scored, 65 hits and five triples this season to go with a team-high 32 stolen bases. Robert Gallagher and Alex Luccini have provided offensive depth with 45 and 46 hits, respectively, combining for 58 RBIs and 76 runs scored. Brandon Fish has made his return to the lineup and will provide another strong offensive weapon as well as solid defensive play.
 
On the mound, LJ Keevan impressed in his start against the Bearcats, earning his third win of the season. Joshua Becker and Matt Draper have been crucial for the River Hawks all season and have the best ERAs on the team, at 4.11 and 5.14, respectively. Draper leads the team with 65 strikeouts while Becker is second with 43. Veterans Miles Cota, Frankie Venezia, Brendan Williams and Zach Rodgers have been very solid out of the River Hawk bullpen this season and will be called upon once again this postseason.
 
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Bryant enters the postseason after being swept by top-seeded Maine in the final series of the regular season. The Bulldogs rank second in home runs (70) and struck out 421 batters to lead the league. Jake Gustin has had a great season at the plate and in the field, sitting sixth in the league batting .355 and a league-high 71 hits.
 
CONFERENE RANKS
Fritz Genther is 13^th in the league hitting .322 and 11^th in slugging percentage at .550. Jacob Humphrey is fifth with 52 runs scored and seventh in hits with 65. Genther is ninth in the league with 43 RBIs. Siracusa and Genther are in the top-15 in the league in doubles, with 14 and 13, respectively. Humphrey's five triples leads the league while Alex Luccini is tied for fourth with three. Genther's eight homeruns is tied for eighth in the league.
 
Matt Draper is ninth with a 5.14 ERA and ninth with a .283 opposing batting average. Draper is also second in innings pitched with 77.0 and tied for sixth in the league with 65 strikeouts. Joshua Becker's four wins has him in the top 15 in the league while Jacob Jette and LJ Keevan are tied for seventh with two saves each this season.
 
STOLEN GOODS
The River Hawks are second in the conference with 83 stolen bases on 104 attempts this season, behind Maine (96-117). Jacob Humphrey leads the way with 32 stolen bases on 37 attempts while Robert Gallagher is 16-21. Gallagher surpassed 100 career stolen bases and holds the program record. Fritz Genther and Gerry Siracusa have nine stolen bases each. On the defensive end, UMass Lowell has allowed 44 stolen bases on 62 attempts. Ryan Proto has caught 12 runners stealing while Jake Fitzgibbons has thrown out five runners this season.