Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Junior Joseph DeLanzo (Nutley, N.J.) made a huge impact for the River Hawks, recording six total RBI, from two hits with five at bats, helping UMass Lowell gain its second win of the season (2-1), 12-6, following game one on Saturday at the Swig & Swine College Classic. The UMass Lowell baseball team fell short in the second game of the day, versus Towson (1-2), 2-11, concluding the College Classic for the River Hawks.

"I was really happy with our effort in game one," said Head Coach Nick Barese. "Brendan Holland settled in and ended up giving us a great effort. Offensively we took advantage in some big spots, led by Joe DeLanzo. Game two we just didn't play well enough defensively, and when you give a team that many extra chances, you really make it hard on yourself."

Senior Brandon Fish (Londonderry, N.H.) was at the plate three times in the Ball State game, posting two hits while racking in three runs and one RBI. Sophomore River Hart (Nashua, N.H.) got the start at left field, for an efficient performance, with four at bats, two hits, runs and RBI. Junior Carlos Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico) led the way for the River Hawks in game two, with one solo home run, and an RBI posted with three total at bats. Sophomore Sean O'Leary (Foxboro, Mass.) tallied two hits, following three at bats. 

Redshirt-junior Brendan Holland (North Andover, Mass.) got the start at pitcher against Ball State, throwing in 6.2 innings for five strikeouts and his first victory of the year, 1-0. Holland departed in the seventh, as sophomore Cam Sime (Pittsfield, Mass.) entered totaling 2.1 innings played, with one strikeout.

Graduate student Kevin Zarnoch Jr. (Boston, Mass.) got the start, recording six strikeouts in 4.1 innings pitched, but fell short against Towson, with a 0-1 record to begin the season. Several other relief pitchers entered the game, in senior Andres Hulfachor (Nashua, N.H.), graduate student Miles Cota (Hampstead, N.C.), graduate student Dylan Bedder (New Providence, N.J.) and freshman Nolan Geisler (Bayonne, N.J.). 

In game one, the Cardinals took advantage in their first at-bat, jumping in front, 2-0, thanks to a double and a sacrifice fly. 

The River Hawks responded with an electric fourth inning, totaling 10 runs off of five hits. Fish started it off with a double to center field, sending O'Leary home. Fish would score later in the inning, following a DeLanzo groundout to second, before junior Zachary Scott (Lunenburg, Mass.) scored on a wild pitch, giving the River Hawks their first lead of the game, 3-2. 

Martinez smacked a single to first base, sending senior Jake Fitzgibbons (Franklin, Mass.) home, increasing the score, 4-2. Next at bat, O' Leary walked, with the bases loaded, adding another run from senior Conor Kelly (Hopkinton, Mass.). Hart knocked the ball to left field for a single, scoring Martinez and senior Alex Luccini (Hopedale, Mass.). DeLanzo up at the plate once again, this time hitting a double, which ended up scoring O' Leary, Fish, and Hart, closing the scoring period for the River Hawks in the fourth, for a 10-2 score.

Ball State answered in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run to right field, but Martinez would close the inning with a putout, as UMass Lowell still led, 10-3. 

Delanzo added to his RBI count with a double to right center to score Hart and Fish during the ninth. Ball State would battle until the end of the game, sending a three-run home run to left field. Luccini closed the game for UMass Lowell, securing a fly ball to conclude the 12-6 victory over Ball State.

In game two, Towson plated an unearned run in the first to take an early lead. The Tigers capitalized on a sacrifice fly to left field to make it 2-0 in the third inning. Later in the game in the fifth inning, Towson was able to use a pair of RBI singles to stretch the lead to 5-0.

Martinez got the River Hawks on the board with a solo homer in the sixth inning. However, Towson answered with two homers in the bottom of the sixth, grabbing three runs for an 8-1 lead. 

An error from the pitcher in the eighth inning, sent sophomore Ryan Strand (Goffstown, N.H.) home to add a run for the River Hawks. The Tigers plated their final runs with a double and a groundout in the eighth and the River Hawks were not able to overcome the 11-2 difference. 

UMass Lowell will look ahead to next week for a weekend series against Appalachian State, starting Friday, Feb 21, at 3 p.m. in Hickory, N.C. at L.P. Frans Stadium.