Box Score HICKORY, N.C. – Senior infielder Conor Kelly (Hopkinton, Mass.) logged a double, as the UMass Lowell baseball team (2-2) fell, 1-0, in a defensive duel at Appalachian State (2-3) to open the weekend series at L.P. Frans Stadium in Hickory N.C.
"Offensively we just got off to a really slow start and let Appalachian State get comfortable," voiced Head Coach Nick Barese. "I know our identity as an offense, and know that we'll come ready tomorrow with some adjustments. Credit to the App State pitchers who did a great job attacking the strike zone and challenging us."
Sophomore Scott Donahue (Medfield, Mass.) and junior Zachary Scott (Lunenburg, Mass.) each also logged a hit in the contest.
Sophomore Alfred Mucciarone (Franklin, Mass.) started on the mound for the second weekend in a row, tossing three strikeouts in six innings to record his first decision of the season. Junior Brian Foley (Milton, Mass.) entered as the relief pitcher, throwing one inning. Redshirt-sophomore Nick Dirito (Plymouth, Mass.) closed out the game with three strikeouts in the eighth.
"We had great effort from the pitchers today," added Barese. "Mucciarone was fantastic and gave us the start we needed. Foley and Dirito have put together two really good bullpen outings in a row."
The Mountaineers jumped out to an early lead, scoring what would be the lone run of the contest with an RBI single in the bottom of the first.
Both sides left a runner stranded in the second, as Donahue registered the first hit of the day for the River Hawks. Kelly then doubled to right field in the third before UMass Lowell forced a 1-2-3 inning in the home half of the inning when senior Alex Luccini (Hopedale, Mass.) grabbed a ball lined out to center field and a fly ball to keep the difference at 1-0.
The River Hawks continued to knock on the door with a single up the middle by Fish in the fourth. Mucciarone then continued to hold his own on the mound with two more strikeouts.
The fifth started with junior Joseph DeLanzo (Nutley, N.J.) getting on base after being hit by the pitch and advancing to third on a two-bagger by Scott. However, DeLanzo was tagged out on a fielder's choice, keeping the visitors scoreless.
Two batters were left on base for UMass Lowell in the sixth following walks from junior Carlos Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico) and Donahue. Foley would switch into the game for Mucciarone in the seventh and DeLanzo closed the inning on a double play, tagging second and throwing to first.
Dirito entered in the eighth inning for Foley, leaving two on base with three straight strikeouts to end the inning. Sophomore Sean O'Leary (Foxboro, Mass.) knocked a single to the right side in the River Hawks' final trip to the dish and freshman Brayden Cali (Taunton, Mass.) entered as a pinch runner. Cali stole second before a line drive to first base would finalize the game.
UMass Lowell returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, February 22, at 2 p.m. at L.P. Frans Stadium in Hickory, N.C. for game two of the weekend series.
