LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell baseball team (13-21) finishes a four-game homestand with a Tuesday afternoon tilt against Merrimack (10-24-1) on April 15 before traveling to Bryant (15-15-1) for a weekend series beginning on Friday, April 18. 

LAST TIME OUT 
The River Hawks went 1-3 during last week's play. Senior Conor Kelly (Hopkinton, Mass.) went 3-for-4 at the plate versus Boston College, but UMass Lowell fell in a tight game, 3-1, on April 8. Friday's series opener was a neck-and-neck finish, as UMBC came out on top, 5-4, after heading to extra innings in the first game of the doubleheader. The Retrievers took game two, as well, in a 8-2 decision during the nightcap of the doubleheader. Sophomore Alfred Mucciarone (Franklin, Mass.) got the start in the first game, going 6.0 innings, and allowing only three hits with nine strikeouts. Kelly registered three hits and one run, while senior Alex Luccini (Hopedale, Mass.) tallied three knocks, two RBI and two runs, after the doubleheader on Friday. The final game against the Retrievers on Sunday ended on yet another one-run difference, this time a 7-6 victory for the River Hawks. Senior Brandon Fish (Londonderry, N.H.) went 3-for-4 with four RBI and one run, as sophomore Scott Donahue (Medfield, Mass.) and Luccini each tallied two hits and two runs. 

LEADING THE FLOCK
More than halfway through the season, Fish owns a team-best .386 batting average. He also paces the squad in doubles (12), on-base percentage (.432), hits (44) and RBI (27). Luccini leads the team in OPS (1.057), slugging percentage (.628), runs (32), triples (5), and home runs (6). Junior Zachary Scott (Lunenburg, Mass.) still leads the team with nine stolen bases. 

On the mound, graduate student Dylan Bedder (New Providence, N.J.) leads the pitchers in earned run average (3.72), as well as in WHIP (1.19). Redshirt-sophomore Nick Dirito (Plymouth, Mass.) sits first with a team-high four saves. Dirito and junior Brian Foley (Milton, Mass.) have the most wins on the season with three apiece. Redshirt junior Brendan Holland (North Andover, Mass.) and Mucciarone lead the bullpen with 45.2 innings pitched, while Holland registers a team-high 48 batters struck out. 

HIT INTO PLAY
The River Hawks have tallied 17 games this season with 10+ hits, including posting 10 and 11 hits versus UMBC this past week. The team's overall record in those 17 games is 10-7. The River Hawks posted a season-high 21 knocks versus Lafayette on Sunday, March 9. UMass Lowell is 13-8 when totaling eight or more hits in a contest. 

STRIKE THREE YOU'RE OUT
UMass Lowell's pitching staff has totaled four games so far with 12+ strikeouts. This season, the team posted 15 strikeouts against Le Moyne on March 23, only one short of the Division I program record of 16, which was set during the 2018 season. When posting 10+ strikeouts in a game this season, the River Hawks hold a 5-4 record. 

ETCHING HIS NAME IN THE RECORD BOOK 
In game two of the doubleheader against Bryant on Friday, March 28, Holland was dominant on the bump, striking out 11 batters to tie the River Hawks' Division I single-game record, matching Matt Draper's effort from March 4, 2023 against James Madison. 

100 CAREER HITS 
During the game on Friday, April 4 against Maine, Kelly ripped a single to left field in his first at-bat of the game, the 100th hit of his collegiate career. 

HITTING STREAK
Knocking a hit in all four games this past week earned junior Carlos Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico) a 12-game hitting streak, dating back to Tuesday, March 25 in the matchup against Merrimack. Last season, former River Hawk Ryan Proto went 13 straight games recording a hit. 

CRACKING THE LEADERBOARD 
Keeping up the work at the plate, Luccini remains on the NCAA leaderboard, as the senior is currently tied for sixth in triples (5) and tied for 10th in triples per game (.15). 

AE OVERALL PLAYER STATISTICAL RANKS
The River Hawks fill the leaderboard following another week of play, with Fish taking second in the America East in batting average (.386). Luccini ranks fourth in slugging percentage (.628), OPS (1.057), and runs (32) among the conference. Fish is tied for third in the America East for hits (44) and second in doubles (12) with Luccini following in fourth with 11 two-baggers. Luccini remains in front for triples (5), with Fish tied in second (2). For home runs, Luccini ranks tied for third with six. Scott is tied for second in stolen bases (9) in the America East. 

Holland and Mucciarone are tied in fourth for most innings pitched in the America East (45.2). Holland sits in second for strikeouts (48), with Mucciarone tied in fourth (44). Dirito is sitting in third for saves (4) in the conference. 

SCOUTING MERRIMACK 
The Warriors enter Tuesday's contest against UMass Lowell, following an 8-4 defeat on Sunday at Quinnipiac, putting the team at a 10-24-1 overall record. Graduate student Cavan Brady leads offensively for Merrimack, posting 38 hits, 17 RBI and 27 runs. Another piece includes Frankie Ferrentino, tallying 34 hits, 22 RBI, 21 runs with seven doubles and eight home runs. Out of the bullpen, sophomore Andrew Heffernan has thrown in 51.2 innings with 26 strikeouts, registering a 3.83 ERA. 

SCOUTING BRYANT 
Building momentum off a series sweep against Binghamton this past weekend, Bryant sits at a 15-15-1 overall record and a 5-4 conference record, so far. Junior Brandyn Durand has made a major impact offensively, totaling 36 hits, 26 RBI and 25 runs. Besides Durand, graduate student Gavin Noriega tallied 34 hits, 30 RBI, and 24 runs with 10 doubles and four home runs. Pitchers to keep an eye on include freshman Michael Belcher, pitching in 34.0 innings, recording 35 strikeouts and a 5.29 ERA. 

MATCHUP HISTORY
The River Hawks dropped their most recent game against Merrimack on Tuesday, March 25, 4-2, now sitting at an 11-8 all-time record against the Warriors. UMass Lowell holds a 6-4 home record against Merrimack. 

Following the series this season, Bryant dropped both games to UMass Lowell in the doubleheader on Friday, March 28, but answered in the last game of the series with a 9-2 victory. The River Hawks own a 9-8 overall record against the Bulldogs, as well as a 6-3 all-time conference record.