LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell baseball team (4-7) continues its trip in California, heading south to Malibu for a four-game series against Pepperdine (3-12) from March 12-14 to wrap up the trip out west.

LAST TIME OUT
Over a week into March, the River Hawks are now 4-7 after going 2-2 in a series at San Francisco this past weekend and earning a victory at Sacramento State on Tuesday Night.

In the first game against San Francisco, the River Hawks tied it up late, but fell 8-5. Graduate student Jorge Burgos (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) posted two hits, including a double, with an RBI and a run in the contest, while freshman Cal Chance (Wolcott, Conn.) also tallied two hits, recording two runs. Junior Alfred Mucciarone (Franklin, Mass.) got the start on the mound, going 6.0 innings to register seven strikeouts with just two earned runs. The second game was an offensive explosion for the River Hawks, as the team recorded 22 hits and 18 runs to help secure an 18-7 victory. Junior Rowan Masse (Manchester, Conn.) had a big day at the plate, going 4-for-5 at bat with five runs and four RBI, while graduate student Nicholas Solorzano (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) also tallied four hits (4-6 at bat) with four RBI. Redshirt-sophomore Sean O'Leary (Foxboro, Mass.) knocked three hits, including a home run with four runs and two RBI, as well. Junior Brian Foley (Milton, Mass.) got the start, pitching 4.2 innings with eight strikeouts, while graduate student Will Melby Jr. (Munster, Ind.) went 0.1 innings with a strikeout, collecting his first victory as a River Hawk.

In the third game of the series, Chance led the way for UMass Lowell, knocking two hits at the plate with a double and a run, as the team pulled off a late comeback to beat San Francisco, 6-4. Senior Jacob Jette (Franklin, Mass.) started on the hill, pitching 6.0 innings to tie his career-high in strikeouts with four, along with earning his first win of the season. Also pitching out of the bullpen, sophomore Nolan Geisler (Bayonne, N.J.) went 2.0 innings with three hits, no runs, and three strikeouts, while senior Carlos Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico) took the mound for the first time in his collegiate career, going 1.0 inning with a strikeout to earn a save, as well as recording a hit and a run while at the plate. During the series finale at San Francisco, the Dons held a steady lead throughout the contest before sealing a 8-2 outcome on Monday. Sophomore Brayden Cali (Taunton, Mass.) went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored, and freshman Colin Ducie (Plymouth, Mass.) got his first collegiate start on the bump, pitching 4.0 innings to record three strikeouts, while allowing just one hit and one run.

During Tuesday's midweek contest at Sacramento State, the River Hawks fought hard all the way until the last out, securing a 7-2 triumph. Martinez performed well at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and two runs, while senior Joseph DeLanzo (Nutley, N.J.) also went 2-for-4 at bat with two RBI. Graduate student Frankie DeMaro (Newburgh, N.Y.) opened the game, pitching 4.0 innings with two strikeouts to allow just one run in his outing. Geisler got his first win of the season, going 1.2 innings with a strikeout, while freshman Josh Doney (Lynn, Mass.) went 2.0 innings, tossing two strikeouts.

LEADING THE FLOCK
After competing in 11 games so far, Solorzano currently leads the team in batting average (.364), and sits in first in on-base plus slugging percentage at .917. Masse sits in first for runs scored at 14, while Chance has tallied the most hits on the team with 13. O'Leary and Martinez are tied for first on the team in runs batted in with nine each. Martinez also sits first in doubles with four, and O'Leary has hit the most home runs with two. O'Leary is also tied for first in triples with Burgos at 1 each.

Mucciarone leads the team in earned run average (3.78), as Ducie holds a team-high in WHIP at 0.52. Jette, Geisler, Melby Jr., and DeMaro are all tied for the most wins on the team with one. Martinez and sophomore Jake LeFrancois (Worcester, Mass.) are both tied in saves with one. Mucciarone has also pitched in the most innings (16.2), while Foley leads the team in strikeouts at 21.

A RECORD-SETTING PERFORMANCE
On Saturday, March 7, the River Hawks knocked 22 hits, tying the UMass Lowell Division I program record for most hits in a single game, while also marking the most singles in a contest with 18 in UMass Lowell Division I history. This outing matches their performance on April 15, 2022, when the team posted 22 hits versus Hartford in a 20-4 victory. The previous record for singles in a game as a team was 15, also versus Hartford in the same contest on April 15, 2022.

STORMING THE RANKINGS
Foley keeps moving up the NCAA Division I leaderboard, currently sitting in 17th for strikeouts per nine innings with an average of 14.92. The right-hander has tossed 21 strikeouts after pitching 12.2 innings, so far.

AE OVERALL PLAYER STATISTICAL RANKS
Progressing more into the month of March, Solorzano has jumped the conference rankings, sitting fifth in batting average at .364, while Chance is tied for ninth at .333. Masse ranks seventh in the America East for on-base percentage with .422 and third in runs scored at 14, as O'Leary is behind in fourth for runs scored with 12. Martinez is tied for 10th place for runs batted in with 10, while also sitting tied for third in doubles with four, and DeLanzo is tied for eighth in doubles at three. Both Burgos and O'Leary are tied for sixth in the conference in triples (1), while O'Leary is also tied for 10th in home runs with two. Senior Zachary Scott (Lunenburg, Mass.) is tied for first in walks at 10, with Masse not far behind sitting tied for fourth with 8 walks.

Mucciarone is ranked fourth for earned run average in the America East at 3.78, with Jette in fifth at 4.05 and Foley in sixth at 4.26. Foley is leading the conference in total strikeouts with 21, as Mucciarone ranks tied for fourth with 15. Mucciarone is also sitting in fourth for innings pitched at 16.2. Lefrancois and Martinez are both tied for second in saves with one.

For overall team rankings, the River Hawks are ranked third for batting average (.243), earned run average (6.68), and fielding percentage (.971)

SCOUTING PEPPERDINE
Pepperdine recently played a midweek contest on Monday, falling 12-1 to California State, as the Waves now sit at 3-12 on the season. A big piece to Pepperdine's offense is Daniel Patterson, who has been hitting .262 at the plate, adding 16 hits, 11 runs, and eight runs batted in to lead the team, while also knocking three doubles, a triple, and three home runs. Another key player is Julian Nunez, who ranks first on the team in batting average at .273, also recording 12 hits with two doubles, eight runs, and two runs batted in. Out of the bullpen, Collin Valentine owns a team-best earned run average at 2.66, pitching in the most innings at 20.1 while also registering eight strikeouts. Tommy Scavone has also been big on the mound for the Waves, throwing 18.1 innings and ranking first on the team in strikeouts at 18.

MATCHUP HISTORY
This weekend's series at Pepperdine will be the first time in Division I history that the UMass Lowell baseball team will be matching up against Sacramento State.