PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Junior Ryan Strand (Goffstown, N.H.) drove in two runs on two hits, as the UMass Lowell baseball team jumped in front early before falling, 14-12, against Miami (Ohio) on Saturday at the Snowbird Baseball Classic in Port Charlotte, Fla.
"The offense was fantastic, and they did everything asked of them," said Head Coach Nick Barese. "I thought Foley gave us a great start on the mound. We're still finding our way early on in the bullpen, and need to figure out roles and which guys will consistently compete in the strike zone."
Strand was one of four River Hawks to knock a pair of hits in the contest, including graduate student Jorge Burgos (Santo Domingo, D.R.), who ripped a triple and scored two runs. Senior Joshua Lopez (Nanuet, N.Y.) also added to the River Hawk offense with two RBI on the day off a two-run double. Senior Joseph DeLanzo (Nutley, N.J.) and freshman Cal Chance (Wolcott, Conn.) both went 2-for-5 with an RBI to round out the multi-hit performances for UMass Lowell, as the team totaled 10 hits in the outing.
On the mound, senior Brian Foley (Milton, Mass.) worked 4.0 innings in his start, allowing just one run on four hits with five strikeouts. Graduate student Frankie DeMaro (Newburgh, N.Y.) came on in relief late in the game, recording three strikeouts in two innings to move to 1-1 on the young season.
UMass Lowell built an early cushion in the top of the first inning. Lopez's two-run double put the team on the board before senior Carlos Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico) scored on a groundout, and Strand and DeLanzo followed with RBI singles. In the bottom of the inning, Foley was strong on the mound, leaving two RedHawks stranded with three consecutive strikeouts, giving the River Hawks a 5-0 advantage through one complete inning.
Burgos led off the second with a three-bagger to right center before scoring on a ball put into play by Martinez, extending the lead to 6-0. However, the RedHawks were able to get one back in their next trip to the dish on two hits and an RBI walk.
Chance opened the third inning with an infield single before taking advantage of a Miami miscue to move into scoring position and scoring on a ball from Strand. Following a pitching change, Burgos drove a single through the right side to extend the advantage to 8-1.
Foley finished his day by holding Miami to just one hit in their next two at-bats, allowing the River Hawks to tack on four more runs in the top of the fifth to pull away, 12-1. However, Miami answered with a 10-run rally in the home half of the inning to cut the difference to just one at 12-11. The RedHawks then took the lead in the seventh on a three-run homer to take the come-from-behind decision.
UMass Lowell closes out play at the Snowbird Baseball Classic on Sunday, Feb. 22, facing Indiana State at 12 p.m.
