HICKORY, N.C. – Junior Carlos Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico) stood out for the River Hawks, tallying a hit, an RBI, and a run, as the UMass Lowell baseball team (2-3) dropped game two against Appalachian State, 7-5, on Saturday afternoon.
"We didn't play well enough in any phase to win today," stated Head Coach Nick Barese. "Defensively we weren't crisp enough, and we are still searching for consistent at-bats offensively. I thought there were glimpses with the pitching staff, specifically with Cam Sime and Nick Dirito. Those two did a great job keeping the game manageable."
Redshirt junior Brendan Holland (North Andover, Mass.) made the start for the River Hawks, logging three strikeouts in 3.1 innings pitched. Junior Michael Simes (Rutland, Mass.) went 1.2 innings with a strikeout, while sophomore Cam Sime (Pittsfield, Mass.) struck out one in an inning tossed. Redshirt sophomore Nick Dirito (Plymouth, Mass.) finished out the final two innings of the game, recording two strikeouts in his appearance.
Entering the game in the second inning, sophomore Rowan Masse (Manchester, Conn.) recorded an RBI and run alongside two walks in two at-bats, and senior Jake Fitzgibbons (Franklin, Mass.) went 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored.
Although senior Conor Kelly (Hopkinton, Mass.) stroked a one-out double to right center in the top of the first, Appalachian State got on the board first with a solo shot in the bottom half of the inning. An inning later, the Mountaineers added to their lead, using three straight singles followed by a sacrifice fly to own a 3-0 lead through two.
The River Hawks' offense caught fire in the third, kickstarted by Fitzgibbons' two-bagger down the right field line. After a wild pitch advanced him over to third, the senior made it home thanks to junior Zachary Scott's (Lunenburg, Mass.) sacrifice fly to right, cutting the deficit to 3-1. Two batters later, after a walk and a hit by pitch put a pair of runners on for the River Hawks, Martinez drilled a single into right field, driving in one before an error by the defense sent the second runner home, knotting the game up at 3-3 with a runner at second. Stepping up to the plate, senior Brandon Fish (Londonderry, N.H.) drove the ball through the left side of the field, giving Martinez the chance to run home and put his squad on top, 4-3.
In the fourth, the hosts found their footing at the plate, using a pair of singles and a double to tie the game before a three-run shot put them back in front, 7-4. Despite the deficit, the River Hawks refused to back down, making quick work of the opposing offense in the bottom of the fifth. In the top of the sixth, the offense made the Appalachian State pitcher work, drawing two walks and a hit by pitch before they made a call to the bullpen. Then, with two outs, Masse worked the count to full before drawing ball four, driving in a runner to make it a two-score game, 7-5.
Looking to make a comeback, Sime and Dirito were lights out on the mound for the River Hawks, not allowing a runner past first base in the final three innings. Meanwhile, the offense began to build momentum thanks to a leadoff single by junior Joseph DeLanzo (Nutley, N.J.) but was unable to capitalize, sealing the 7-5 decision.
UMass Lowell ends the weekend with the third matchup against Appalachian State on Sunday, February 23, at 1 p.m. at L.P. Frans Stadium in Hickory, N.C.
