SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Senior Alex Luccini (Hopedale, Mass.) went 5-for-9 at the plate with a double, two RBI, and two runs, as the UMass Lowell baseball team (14-24) split the doubleheader against the Bryant Bulldogs (18-16-1) on Saturday afternoon.
"Good to get the split today," said Head Coach Nick Barese. "I thought the pitching and defense was really good. Nick Dirito gave us a solid start, and Dylan Bedder continues to be nails. Disappointing to lose the series, but a gritty effort by our guys to salvage game two."
Junior Carlos Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico) posted two hits, a home run, one RBI, and one run, while sophomore River Hart (Nashua, N.H.) added three hits including a home run.
The starting pitcher for the first game was redshirt junior Brendan Holland (North Andover, Mass.) who went 4.2 innings with two strikeouts. Graduate student Kevin Zarnoch Jr. (Boston, Mass.) tossed in 0.2 innings, adding a strikeout, while junior Brian Foley (Milton, Mass.) pitched 2.0 innings, allowing one hit and no runs. Redshirt sophomore Nick Dirito (Plymouth, Mass.) got the start on the bump in game two, pitching 5.1 frames with three strikeouts to earn a win. Graduate student Dylan Bedder (New Providence, N.J.) closed out the game for the River Hawks, going 3.0 innings while fanning three batters to record his second save of the season.
The home team jumped in front early in game one, using a double and a single to take a 1-0 lead after one. Looking to get his squad back on track in the second, Martinez sent the ball flying over the right field wall, rounding the bases to tie the game at 1-1. On the next pitch, Hart followed suit, cracking a home run for the River Hawks's first lead of the game, 2-1. After a 1-2-3 inning by Holland closed out the home half of the second, the River Hawks wasted no time, as freshman Brayden Cali (Taunton, Mass.) led off the third with a double., Luccini then stroked a one-out two-bagger down the right field line, driving in the run to extend the River Hawks lead to 3-1. The Bulldogs answered in the bottom half of the frame by adding two of their own to even the score at 3-3 after three.
Despite starting the top of the fourth with two outs, the River Hawks remained patient at the plate, using a two-out single to set up sophomore Rowan Masse (Manchester, Ct.) who smacked an RBI double down the line, regaining the one-run lead for the River Hawks. The home team fired back once again, adding a run in the home half to pull even once again.
UMass Lowell's bats caught fire in the fifth, beginning with a double from sophomore Scott Donahue (Medfield, Mass.) to open the frame. After a pair of errors allowed two runners to cross home and give the River Hawks the lead, a single and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with two outs. Stepping to the plate, Masse ripped a single into right field, driving in two, before Cali added an RBI single of his own to put the River Hawks on top 9-4, their largest lead of the game.
The home team answered with a five-run inning, knotting the score up for the fourth, this time at 9-9. Although UMass Lowell was able to get two with two outs on in the top of the sixth, they were unable to capitalize. The Bulldogs took advantage by regaining the lead in the sixth, plating two runs for the 11-9 advantage. Despite Luccini adding an RBI single the following inning to cut the deficit to one, the opponent recorded three more runs, extending the score to 14-10 through seven.
In the final two innings, the River Hawks continued to battle, allowing only one hit in the bottom of the eighth, but they were unable to pull any closer, sealing the 14-10 decision in game one.
The River Hawks began game two by loading the bases with two outs thanks to two singles and an error but were unable to capitalize. After giving up a leadoff single, Dirito locked in, getting three of the next four batters out to send the game to the second scoreless. In the visitor's half of the second, UMass Lowell jumped in front, using a pair of walks to get two runners on, before sending both home due to a pair of errors by the Bulldogs. Moments later with runners on the corners, senior Brandon Fish (Londonderry, N.H.) put the ball in play to plate another run, giving the River Hawks a 3-0 advantage.
Looking to add to the lead in the fourth, Luccini drilled a two-out single through the left side before stealing second to give Fish another RBI opportunity. Up for the challenge, Fish stroked a single into right center, giving Luccini more than enough time to round third and tag home, extending the lead to 4-0. Dirito stayed on track in the bottom half, striking out one as part of a 1-2-3 inning to send the game to the fifth.
In the sixth, the Bulldogs started to find life at the plate, recording a pair of singles and a double as part of a three-run inning that cut the deficit to 4-3. Although UMass Lowell was unable to build back its lead in the top of the seventh, Bedder shut down Bryant's chance at tying the game in the home half, striking out a pair of batters to keep the score the same with two innings to go.
Looking for extra run support, the River Hawks placed two on after hitting a pair of singles in the ninth. However, the Bulldogs escaped the jam, giving themselves a chance to tie the game in the final frame. Bedder, however, had other plans, closing the game with three quick outs to earn the save and seal the 4-3 victory in game two of the doubleheader.
The River Hawks are back in action on Wednesday, April 23, at Harrington Athletics Village for a midweek game against Boston College. The first pitch is set for 4 p.m. in Brighton, Mass.
