LOWELL, Mass. – Sophomore
Michael Simes (Rutland, Mass.) was lights out on the mound for the UMass Lowell baseball team (18-21, 8-7 AE), throwing a complete game shutout for a 2-0 game one win against the UMBC Retrievers (17-18, 7-6 AE) on Friday afternoon.
Simes struck out four hitters and did not allow a walk with only five hits. The sophomore improves to 2-2 on the season after his stellar performance on Friday.
Freshman
Ryan Strand (Goffstown, N.H.) went 2-4 with one RBI while senior
Fritz Genther (Kingston, N.Y.) tallied one hit and one RBI on the afternoon. Sophomore
Carlos Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico) hit his team-leading 22
nd double of the season with graduate student Ryan Prot0 (Centerville, Mass.) recording one hit as well.
Michael Simes started the game strong, retiring six straight hitters with one strikeout in the first two innings.
Carlos Martinez hit a lead-off double in the second inning to get the first baserunner on for the River Hawks. Martinez moved to third on a groundout before
Ryan Strand's RBI single to left scored the game's opening run.
Simes picked up his second strikeout of the day in the third, retiring the side in order once again. The sophomore retired 11 straight hitters before the Retrievers tallied their first hit of the day in the fourth with two outs.
Fritz Genther made a nice play for the final out of the frame at second, keeping the River Hawks in front.
The Retrievers were held scoreless through five with Simes in control on the mound. UMass Lowell could not add to the lead as the game moved to the sixth with the hosts holding a slim 1-0 edge. UMBC nearly tied the game with one out in the seventh, but Martinez made a great throw to home as Proto applied the tag. Genther made a nice grab for the third out and keep UMass Lowell ahead.
Genther came up big with a two-out triple to left center to score senior
Roddy Hernandez (Jersey City, N.J.) and give UMass Lowell a 2-0 lead heading into the eighth. Simes came back out for the bottom of the eighth and threw a 1-2-3 inning to bring the offense back to the plate.
The shortstop made yet another highlight reel play with a backhand grab and throw to first for the first out of the ninth inning. Genther made another great play for the second out and a groundout gave Simes the complete game shutout and UMass Lowell a 1-0 series lead.
Game two is set for 1:00 p.m. at LeLacheur Park on Saturday, April 27.
