MALIBU, Calif. – Freshman Cal Chance (Wolcott, Conn.) racked up five hits at the plate today, tying the UMass Lowell Division I single-game program record, as the UMass Lowell baseball team (5-7) earned a well-fought victory over Pepperdine (3-13), 7-6, on Thursday afternoon. With today's win, Head Coach Nick Barese captured the 200th win of his collegiate head coaching career.

"Really good win," said Barese. "It's important to get those close ones early in the year, and learn how to win tight ones. Cal Chance was the catalyst, 5 hits is beyond impressive. And another freshman, Chris Klueber, gave us a great start on the mound."

Three River Hawks recorded multi-hit performances at bat, as senior Joseph DeLanzo (Nutley, N.J.) tallied two hits, two RBI, and one run, while senior Zachary Scott (Lunenburg, Mass.) collected two hits with an RBI and redshirt-sophomore Sean O'Leary (Foxboro, Mass.) posted two hits with a run and an RBI. Freshman Christopher Klueber (Bourne, Mass.) earned his first collegiate start on the mound, pitching 4.0 innings with two earned runs and one strikeout. Sophomore Nolan Geisler (Bayonne, N.J.) went 1.0 inning with one hit and no earned runs, while graduate student Will Melby Jr. (Munster, Ind.) claimed his second victory of the year after going 2.0 innings with one strikeout without allowing a hit. Senior Carlos Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico) closed the game for the River Hawks, allowing just one hit with a strikeout to earn his second save of the season. 

Chance began the game for the River Hawks leading off with a double, but the Waves shut down any further opportunities, closing the top half of the first. After a great first frame defensively for UMass Lowell, the bats started to cook in the second, with graduate student Nicholas Solorzano (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) and junior Scott Donahue (Medfield, Mass.) advancing on base after being hit by the pitch. DeLanzo, next in the lineup, cracked a double down the field line to drive in Solorzano for the first run of the game. Scott added to the score, recording an RBI on a groundout, before Chance tallied his second hit of the game, plating DeLanzo on a single to left field for a 3-0 difference in the visitors half of the second. Klueber, meanwhile, set the tone early on the mound, registering a punchout in the second before ending on a groundout. In the top of the third, Donahue reached via a hit by pitch shortly followed Solorzano drawing a walk but Pepperdine remained calm, escaping the jam to keep the score the same. 

The Waves put together a brief rally in the fourth, knocking a two-run home run to cut the deficit to 3-2. Although DeLanzo was hit by a pitch and Scott singled to center field in the top of the fifth, the Waves once again locked in defensively to close the frame. After Geisler stepped to the mound and ended the fifth on a 6-4-3 double play, the River Hawks capitalized at the plate, scoring four runs in the visitors half of the sixth. Chance continued his strong performance, smacking another hit before O'Leary brought the freshman home with a single to right field, extending the lead to two. Martinez and Solorzano followed with walks to drive in junior Rowan Masse (Manchester, Conn.), before the River Hawks added two more runs when Donahue recorded a sacrifice fly and DeLanzo added a RBI, stretching the lead to 7-2. Pepperdine answered quickly though, bringing the score within one yet again, 7-6, following two home runs in the bottom of the sixth. 

The seventh and eighth innings went quick,  Melby Jr. took over on the mound, tallying a strikeout before finishing the eighth off with a fly ball to right field. Although Chance recorded his fifth hit of the game in the ninth inning, the Waves responded with back-to-back outs, leaving one last chance for Pepperdine in the home half. Martinez came in as the closer, and although the hosts had two on base with one out, the senior held firm, striking out one batter before forcing a groundout to secure a 7–6 victory for UMass Lowell.

The River Hawks prepare for game two against Pepperdine on Friday, March 13, in Malibu, Calif. The contest is set to begin at 6 p.m. ET.