FARMVILLE, Va. – Junior Joseph DeLanzo (Nutley, N.J.) had a strong showing at the plate, going 2-3 on the day, as the UMass Lowell baseball team (4-10) fell to the Longwood Lancers (5-12), 9-2, Wednesday evening. 

"We gave Longwood 13 free baserunners, that's never a recipe for success," said Head Coach Nick Barese. "If we want to turn things around it starts with our pitchers being competitive in the strike zone." 

Sophomore Scott Donahue (Medfield, Mass.) had two hits on the day, while senior Alex Luccini (Hopedale, Mass.) earned an RBI and a run. 

Freshman Nolan Geisler (Bayonne, N.J.) stepped to the mound for his first start on the season, tallying a strikeout in the appearance. Junior Jacob Jette (Franklin, Mass.) tossed 1.1 innings while also adding one strikeout to his total. Relief pitchers graduate student Dylan Bedder (New Providence, N.J.) and graduate student Miles Cota (Hampstead, N.C.) were both effective, as Bedder threw 1.2 innings, tallying five punchouts, and Cota was composed through two frames, hurling three strikeouts on the day. 

Following a walk on Luccini's first appearance at the plate, he advanced to second on a balk, before being knocked home from on a two-out single by sophomore Sean O'Leary (Foxboro, Mass.) for the early advantage, 1-0, in the top of the first. The home team answered after getting their leadoff batter on, adding three runs, before the River Hawks executed a flawless 3-6-1 double play to get out of the inning. After a scoreless top of the second for the River Hawks, the Lancers added another run before Jette got the final out on a swing and a miss, making it a 4-1 game through two. 

Although they couldn't cut into the deficit, the River Hawks stayed sharp defensively through the third, however in the bottom of the fifth the hosts were able to capitalize, adding two more to extend their lead to six, 7-1. The River Hawks tallied a hit in the fifth, but the runner was left stranded, leading to Bedder making quick work of the opposing team, as he struck out the side in the bottom half. 

Looking to rally, UMass Lowell tallied two singles in the top of the sixth to move a runner into scoring position, but they were unable to get him home. Heading into the bottom of the frame, Cota stepped to the mound, tossing two strikeouts, to send his squad back to the plate. 

Getting on base due to being hit by the pitch, sophomore River Hart (Nashua, N.H.) quickly advanced to second before making it to third on a wild pitch. With one out and the bases loaded, Luccini sent the ball to deep center, allowing Hart to tag up and cut the Lancers lead to 7-2. The Lancers responded, sending two across the plate in the eighth, and although the River Hawks were able to get two on in the ninth, Longwood refused to let the visitors send any home, sealing the 9-2 decision. 

The River Hawks return to action this weekend when they open conference play at UMBC from March 14-16. Friday's game is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Alumni Field in Baltimore, Md.