LOWELL, Mass. – Following a strong entrance into opening weekend, the UMass Lowell baseball team (2-1) travels south again, when they visit the Appalachian State Mountaineers (1-3) for a weekend series (Feb. 21-23) hosted at L.P. Frans Stadium.

LAST TIME OUT
UMass Lowell (2-1) started with a close finish against Mercyhurst (0-3), where senior Brandon Fish (Londonderry, N.H.) got the team rolling, during the opening game of the season, for a 5-3 victory at the Shipyard Park on midday Friday, Feb. 14. Fish finished the game a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, one home run and a double, along with one run and two RBI. Next up, the River Hawks matched up against the MAC preseason favorite Ball State (2-1) in a high scoring game, where UMass Lowell was able to grow a lead early, taking a 12-6 triumph. Junior transfer-student Joseph DeLanzo (Nutley, N.J.), showed his involvement early, logging six RBI on two doubles. Lastly, the River Hawks took the field for a doubleheader, following the Ball State game, against Towson (1-2), where they would fall, 11-2. Junior Carlos Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico) sent the ball flying to left center, following a solo home run during that game.   

LEADING THE FLOCK
Fish has posted two multi-hit efforts this season, after going 6-for-9 at the plate in three games played, with four runs and three RBI. He leads the team in said categories (runs, hits, doubles). DeLanzo leads the team in RBI (7), while knocking two hits for two doubles. Martinez has racked up three hits with one home run, two runs scored and two RBI, while adding 13 putouts, following three games played.  

For the pitchers, redshirt-junior Brendan Holland (North Andover, Mass.) has thrown in the most innings on the team, so far at 6.2, while striking out five batters, and walking just one, finishing the game with a 1-0 record. He also tallied three earned runs, following his first start of the season. Junior Brian Foley (Milton, Mass.) had come in as the relief pitcher against Mercyhurst, finishing with 4.0 strong innings, recording four strikeouts with no earned runs. Redshirt-sophomore Nick Dirito (Plymouth, Mass.) entered in the ninth inning during the Mercyhurst game, completing a save for three straight strikeouts thrown. 

AMERICA EAST HONORS
Following a strong opening weekend, Fish was named the America East Player of the Week, due to his .667 batting average, with a 1.33% slugging percentage, helping the River Hawks earn a 2-1 start to the season. 

SCOUTING APPALACHIAN STATE
Appalachian State enters Friday coming off a loss against High Point, on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 13-7. The Mountaineers open the season with a 1-3 overall record before taking on the River Hawks. After the most recent matchup versus High Point, sophomore infielder Tyler Figueroa led the way, recording two runs with three RBI off a 3-for-4 effort at the plate. 

The overall stat leaders include redshirt-junior John Kramer, posting a .500 batting average (7-14), with five runs, five RBI and two home runs, as Figueroa tallied eight runs, seven RBI and two home runs with a .438 average. The top pitcher for the Mountaineers is redshirt-senior Caleb Cross, who threw in 4.1 innings against Queens, the first game of the season, totaling four strikeouts and one batter walked with only one run earned.

MATCHUP HISTORY
Friday marks the first time UMass Lowell and Appalachian State will be meeting.