LITTLE FALLS, N.J. – Junior Carlos Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico) went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and one RBI, as the UMass Lowell baseball team (18-35, 8-16 AE) fell to the NJIT Highlanders (27-24, 14-10 AE), 5-3, in the final game of the regular season on Saturday afternoon.
"Tough pill to swallow," said Head Coach Nick Barese. "Not the way we envisioned our season ending by any means. I'm incredibly grateful to the seniors and grad students who gave so much to this program. I can guarantee you, we will be back better next year and continue to build what that group of upperclassmen started."
Freshman Brayden Cali (Taunton, Mass.) added two hits, two RBI and one run, as sophomore Ryan Strand (Goffstown, N.H.) posted two hits and one run on the day.
Graduate student Miles Cota (Hampstead, N.C.) got the start on the mound, tossing 7.0 innings with three strikeouts.
Although the River Hawks began the first with a single from Martinez, the home team jumped out to a 1-0 edge in the home half. After sophomore River Hart (Nashua, N.H.) walked and Strand bunted a single to start the second, both runners saw their chance to steal and move into scoring position. Cali then stroked a two-out single to center, clearing the bases to give the River Hawks an early 2-1 edge.
Cota made work of the opposition, retiring the side to end the second before the River Hawks knocked two more hits in the top of the third. The UMass Lowell defense stayed steadfast to end the inning with Cota adding a strikeout. Sophomore Rowan Masse (Manchester, Ct.) kickstarted the offense in the fourth with a base hit and advanced to second on a wild pitch. The home team closed any further opportunities, but Cota used 13 pitches to lead a strong defensive frame.
The fifth and sixth innings were quiet for both sides, as UMass Lowell held onto the one-run advantage. In the seventh, the River Hawks crowded the bases after a pair of bunt singles and a walk. Martinez then stepped to the plate and drew a walk to extend the lead to 3-1. The River Hawks, back to the plate in the eighth, saw a chance to extend the lead after Strand hit a single and senior Brandon Fish (Londonderry, N.H.) walked, but NJIT was able to get out of trouble in the top half.
The Highlanders came into the bottom of the eighth rallying for four runs to pull in front, 5-3. With one last go at bat, senior Jake Fitzgibbons (Franklin, Mass.) reached on a two-out walk before Martinez knocked a big time double down the right field line to put the tying run on second. However, the Highlanders were able to close out the game and seal the 5-3 outcome.
