KINGSTON, R.I. – Sophomore Rowan Masse (Manchester, Ct.) recorded a home run, two RBI, and two runs, as the UMass Lowell baseball team (18-32, 8-13 AE) took down the Rhode Island Rams (33-19), 5-1, on Tuesday afternoon.
"Good to get a win during our last game before a big conference series," said Head Coach Nick Barese. "Hopefully we can take some confidence into NJIT and build on this win."
Sophomore Scott Donahue (Medfield, Mass.) went 2-for-5 at the plate with a home run, while junior Carlos Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico) went 2-for-4 with one run.
Starting on the mound, graduate student Kevin Zarnoch Jr. (Boston, Mass.) went 5.0 innings with four strikeouts while allowing just two hits and one earned run in the win. Senior Andres Hulfachor (Nashua, N.H.) pitched 3.0 innings, striking out three batters.
The River Hawks started the game strong on defense, collecting two lineouts on the first two batters. Although the Rams put two runners in scoring position, Zarnoch was up for the challenge, striking out the next batter to keep the game scoreless through one. In the second, Rhode Island started the home half strong, as the first two batters reached base. UMass Lowell continued the strong defensive performance, though, getting the next two batters to fly out before Donahue made a perfect throw to third to catch the lead runner stealing and send the game to the third.
In the top of the fourth, the River Hawks' bats started to catch fire, as Martinez ripped a single into right field for the team's first base hit of the afternoon. Next to the plate, Masse cracked a two-run home run over the left field wall, putting his team on top, 2-0. The Rams, however, answered with a home run of their own in the bottom half of the inning, cutting the visitors' lead to 2-1.
The fifth inning was full of big hits for the River Hawks, as sophomore River Hart (Nashua, N.H.) led off with a home run, before Donahue added a solo shot of his own only two batters later, extending the lead to 4-1. On the mound, Zarnoch continued his strong outing, striking out two of the first three batters before getting the final batter to pop out to close out the fifth. Adding to their lead, the River Hawks took advantage of Masse getting hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, as he advanced to second on a groundout before racing to third on a throwing error. With only one out, sophomore Ryan Strand (Goffstown, N.H.) sent the runner home on a sac fly to right, making it a four-run difference.
Taking over on the mound in the home half of the sixth, Hulfachor started his outing strong, allowing only one hit while striking out one in the frame. Not slowing down, the senior continued to dominate, not allowing a run in the seventh or eighth while striking out two to keep the 5-1 lead heading into the final inning. Taking on the role of closer, junior Brian Foley (Milton, Mass.) got the ball in the bottom of the ninth. Despite a pair of singles and walks loading the bases for the Rams, Donahue caught another runner stealing before a fly out to centerfield sealed the 5-1 victory.
The River Hawks return for their final weekend series of the regular season against NJIT starting on Thursday, May 15, in Newark, N.J. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Yogi Berra Stadium.
