LOWELL, Mass. – Senior Conor Kelly (Hopkinton, Mass.) went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI, as the UMass Lowell baseball team (17-29, 8-13 AE) fell in the final meeting against the UAlbany Great Danes (16-27, 6-12 AE), 7-2, on Sunday afternoon.
"Obviously a disappointing weekend," said Head Coach Nick Barese. "To get swept at home is never acceptable. We have to get right over the next set of non-conference games if we want to play postseason baseball. The leash has run out, it's now or never."
Sophomore Ryan Strand (Goffstown, N.H.) posted one hit and two runs, while senior Alex Luccini (Hopedale, Mass.) added a hit and an RBI.
Graduate student Kevin Zarnoch Jr. (Boston, Mass.) started the game, throwing 2.0 innings with two strikeouts. Freshman Jake LeFrancois (Worcester, Mass.) pitched 4.0 innings, registering two strikeouts while allowing only one earned run. Graduate student Miles Cota (Hampstead, N.C.) went 3.0 innings while adding two strikeouts, allowing just one hit.
The Great Danes got out in front early, posting two runs in the top of the first before Zarnoch got a strikeout swinging for the third out. Although senior Brandon Fish (Londonderry, N.H.) ripped a two-out single to center for the first hit of the day for the River Hawks, the hosts were unable to capitalize, sending the Great Danes to the plate. In the top of the second, UAlbany used a trio of singles and a triple to increase their lead to 6-0. Taking over on the mound in the third, LeFrancois made quick work of the opposition, getting three outs on only nine pitches to send his squad up to bat.
The bottom of the third began with Strand getting hit by a pitch, allowing the sophomore to steal both second and third only moments later. With two outs, Luccini stepped to the plate, driving the ball up the middle and sending Strand home, cutting the deficit to 6-1. LeFrancois continued his strong outing into the fifth, forcing a double play before collecting his first strikeout of the afternoon to end the top of the frame. Although Luccini and Kelly drew two-out walks in the home half of the fifth, UAlbany was able to escape the jam to keep it a five-run game.
In the sixth, the visitors added one run, stretching their lead to 7-1. Looking to respond, sophomore Scott Donahue (Medfield, Mass.) ripped a 2-2 pitch down the left field line for his first hit of the day, but the hosts were unable to capitalize. After Cota took over on the mound and kept the Great Danes off the board in the seventh, UMass Lowell went to work on offense, using back-to-back singles from Strand and sophomore Rowan Masse (Manchester, Ct.) to put a runner in scoring position. Two batters later, Kelly added a single of his own, scoring Strand to make it a 7-2 game.
In the final two innings, Cota continued his strong outing, not allowing a base runner while racking up a pair of strikeouts. Looking to rally, the hosts continued to fight at the plate, getting a runner on in each inning, but were unable to plate either, sealing the 7-2 decision.
Next up, the River Hawks host UMass Amherst in the last contest of the eight-game homestand in Lowell, Mass. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Edward A. LeLacheur Park.
