SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Junior Zachary Scott (Lunenburg, Mass.) went 3-for-5 at bat with two RBI, as the UMass Lowell baseball team (3-6) dropped its series finale at USC Upstate (6-4), 12-4, midday on Sunday. 

"Tough end to the series," mentioned Head Coach Nick Barese. "I know we are better than what we are showing, especially defensively. We need to get back to playing aggressive, selfless baseball."

Sophomore Rowan Masse (Manchester, Conn.) knocked one hit, while grabbing an RBI and two runs on the day. Senior Jake Fitzgibbons (Franklin, Mass.) went 2-for-4 at the plate with one run.

Graduate student Kevin Zarnoch Jr. (Boston, Mass.) started the game on the mound, tossing in 4.2 innings and collecting four strikeouts. Senior Andres Hulfachor (Nashua, N.H.) and junior Brian Foley (Milton, Mass.) each threw in an inning and logged a strikeout 

The home team gained the lead early, but the River Hawks responded with two RBI singles to pull in front, 2-1. Masse knocked the ball on the second pitch, sending sophomore Scott Donahue (Medfield, Mass.) home, and Scott's two-out single to right center scored Masse. The Spartans answered with one run to tie the game in the bottom of the second, but a heads up play by Zarnoch kept the scoreboard even. 

The hosts used a three-run rally in the third to get back on top before UMass Lowell recovered in the fourth to add two more runs off a base hit from freshman Brayden Cali (Taunton, Mass.) and a second RBI from Scott to cut the difference to 5-4. 

In the sixth, the River Hawks added a single from Fitzgibbons, but were unable to capitalize. The Spartans scored on a single during the bottom of the sixth frame, and would extend the lead further late to take the 12-4 decision.

The River Hawks look ahead to a round-robin tournament with Lafayette and Richmond this upcoming weekend, starting on Friday, March 7, at 11:00 a.m. versus Lafayette and at 2:30 p.m. against the host, Richmond.