ANDOVER, Mass. – Senior Alex Luccini (Hopedale, Mass.) continued his hot stretch at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and one run scored, but the UMass Lowell baseball team (8-14) fell to the Merrimack Warriors (7-16-1), 4-2, on Tuesday afternoon.
"In a close game like that, it really comes down to one or two plays," said Head Coach Nick Barese. "They had one swing that made the difference, and when we had our chances, we hit into double plays."
Senior Conor Kelly (Hopkinton, Mass.) went 3-for-4 on the day with a double, as junior Zachary Scott (Lunenburg, Mass.) tallied one hit, an RBI and two stolen bases.
Starting on the bump, freshman Nolan Geisler (Bayonne, N.J.) went 5.0 innings, while freshman Jake Lefrancois (Worcester, Mass.) came in in relief, tossing 1.1 innings and recording three strikeouts. Senior Andres Hulfachor (Nashua, N.H.) finished out the game, pitching 1.2 innings and striking out two batters.
In the home half of the first, the Warriors capitalized on having a runner in scoring position with two outs, using an RBI single to make it a 1-0 game. After a scoreless second for both sides the River Hawks went to work in the third starting with a leadoff single by Scott. After the junior stole second and advanced to third on a fly out, Luccini knocked a one-out single to right field, knotting the score up at 1-1. Only two batters later, with Luccini now on third due to a stolen base and balk, senior Brandon Fish (Londonderry, N.H.) put the ball in play, sending Luccini home and giving the visitors a 2-1 lead. The fourth inning was quick, as a 4-6-3 double play and an impressive grab at the wall by Kelly kept the score the same heading into the fifth.
Both sides continued their strong defensive performances in the next inning, and in the sixth LeFrancois took over on the mound, tossing two strikeouts to send his squad back to the plate. Although junior Joseph DeLanzo (Nutley, N.J.) ripped a one-out single in the top of the seventh, the Warriors were able to prevent any further base runners to keep the River Hawks' lead to one. However, in the home half of the frame, Merrimack used a two-run homer and an RBI double to regain the lead, 4-2, after seven.
Looking to make a comeback in the final innings, UMass Lowell started to rally in the eighth, using two walks and a hit by pitch to load the bases. The Warriors were able to hold on though, preventing any runners from crossing home plate. Hulfachor tossed back-to-back strikeouts to close the bottom half of the eighth, but the Warriors remained on top as they sealed the 4-2 victory in nine innings.
The River Hawks return to Lowell on Friday, March 28, for a weekend series against conference opponent Bryant. Friday features a doubleheader with the first game starting at 3 p.m at Edward A. LeLacheur Park.
