WINCHESTER, Ky. – Graduate student Jorge Burgos (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) started his River Hawk career strong, going 2-for-4 at the plate with a home run, two RBI, and two runs, as the UMass Lowell baseball team (1-0) held off Morehead State (0-1) in a 7-4 decision at George Rogers Clark High School on Friday afternoon in Winchester, Ky.
"Good to get the first win out of the way. It all started with a great start from Mucciarone," said Head Coach Nick Barese. "He kept their offense off balance all day, and got big punch outs and a double play when he needed it. Credit to DeMaro and LeFrancois for shutting the door. I thought our infield defense was tremendous behind him. Offensively, we put together tough at-bats and extended innings early, and, ultimately we were able to break through. Sean O'Leary, and Jorge obviously had big swings, but Zach's two-out, two-strike, two RBI single was the difference."
Redshirt-sophomore Sean O'Leary (Foxboro, Mass.) recorded his first home run of the season and added two RBI, while senior Zachary Scott (Lunenburg, Mass.) also posted two runs batted in on one hit. Starting in the opener, junior Alfred Mucciarone (Franklin, Mass.) went 5.2 innings, registering five strikeouts with one earned run. Graduate student Frankie DeMaro (Newburgh, N.Y.) threw 2.1 innings, collecting four strikeouts and his first victory of the season, while sophomore Jake LeFrancois (Worcester, Mass.) closed the game out for the River Hawks, recording two strikeouts in one inning to earn a save.
Senior Joshua Lopez (Nanuet, N.Y.) took advantage of a fielding error and reached third base to begin the first inning, before O'Leary stepped to the plate, driving the outfielder home on a groundout for an early 1-0 lead. Mucciarone opened his day with a strikeout swinging, before a 6-4-3 grounded double play closed the frame for the River Hawks. The second inning ended quickly for both sides with the score remaining unchanged.
The River Hawks, looking to build momentum, had a runner reach first base, but the Eagles stayed strong in the field, ending the top half of the third. In the fourth, senior Carlos Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico) knocked a double to left center before junior Rowan Masse (Manchester, Conn.) drew a walk, but the River Hawks were unable to capitalize. Getting into rhythm, Mucciarone registered back-to-back strikeouts, maintaining the River Hawks' lead after four innings. Although Morehead State evened the score in the fifth after a solo home run, the River Hawks' defense locked in, recording three straight groundouts to send the game to the sixth.
Mucciarone gave his all on the bump during the sixth before being relieved by DeMaro, who instantly struck out his first batter faced, closing the sixth inning with the score still tied, 1-1. After senior Joseph DeLanzo (Nutley, N.J.) advanced Burgos and Masse on a sacrifice bunt, the bats began to catch fire for the River Hawks, as Lopez drove in a run to retake the lead. Zachary Scott, next at the plate, clutched up on a two-out, two-strike at bat, as the senior smacked a two-run single to left center, increasing UMass Lowell's lead to 4-1.
DeMaro retired the side in the top of the seventh, bringing O'Leary up to bat first for the River Hawks, setting up the infielder, who crushed a solo shot to right field. Martinez and junior Scott Donahue (Medfield, Mass.) reached base soon after, with Burgos joining in on the fun, blasting a home run of his own to push the margin to 7-1. Morehead State responded with a home run, cutting the deficit to three, but DeMaro, composed at the mound, recorded a strikeout for the third out of the eighth inning. LeFrancois entered the game as the closer for UMass Lowell, fanning two straight batters before finalizing the game on a fielder's choice, capturing a 7-4 victory in the season opener against Morehead State.
The UMass Lowell baseball team runs it back against Morehead State tomorrow, February 14, with an 11 a.m. first pitch at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester, Ky.
