LITTLE FALLS, N.J. – Sophomore Rowan Masse (Manchester, Ct.) recorded a double and one RBI, as the UMass Lowell baseball team (18-33, 8-14 AE) fell to the NJIT Highlanders (25-24, 12-10 AE), 8-2, on Thursday Night.
"Tough day offensively today," said Head Coach Nick Barese. "We struggled to put the ball in play, and we just looked over matched. We had some opportunities early to grab the momentum, hopefully we can capitalize on similar chances tomorrow."
Senior Alex Luccini (Hopedale, Mass.) and junior Carlos Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico) each added one hit and one run, as well.
Sophomore Alfred Mucciarone (Franklin, Mass.) got the start on the bump, pitching 5.2 innings with four strikeouts. Freshman Nolan Geisler (Bayonne, N.J.) went 1.2 innings, registering two strikeouts.
The River Hawks started strong on defense, getting three of the first batters of the game out, highlighted by a strikeout swinging from Mucciarone. Although the Highlanders shut down the River Hawks in the second, Mucciarone responded with another strong inning, using only 11 pitches to get three outs and send his team back to the plate. In the third, freshman Brayden Cali (Taunton, Mass.) reached first on a hit-by-pitch, eventually reaching second on a groundout. The home side escaped the jam, before adding a pair of runs in the home half of the inning to own an early 2-0 lead.
The River Hawks went to work on offense in the fourth, starting with a one-out walk for Luccini, who promptly stole second. Only a few pitches later, Masse knocked the ball down the left field line for an RBI double, cutting the deficit to 2-1. The hosts, however, fired right back, adding a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth to once again make it a two-run game.
In the fifth, UMass Lowell started strong on the offensive end with sophomore Ryan Strand (Goffstown, N.H.) and senior Conor Kelly (Hopkinton, Mass.) reaching to put runners on first and second with one out. Although a double steal put both runners in scoring position, the Highlanders found their way out of the jam. Mucciarone continued his strong outing in the bottom of the inning, adding a strikeout before the River Hawks closed the inning out on a double play. In their next opportunity at the plate, NJIT loaded the bases with two outs, but Geisler took over, forcing the next batter to ground out to keep the score 3-1 through six.
After a scoreless seventh from both sides, the River Hawks started to find their stride in the top of the eighth, starting with a pair of singles by Martinez and Luccini to put runners on the corners. Two batters later, senior Brandon Fish (Londonderry, N.H.) flew out to right field, deep enough for the runner to tag up and score, cutting the deficit to 3-2. The Highlanders refused to let the visitors get any closer, escaping the inning before adding five runs in the home half, sealing the 8-2 final score.
The River Hawks return tomorrow, May 16, for game two against NJIT in Little Falls, N.J. The first pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Yogi Berra Stadium.
