LOWELL, Mass. – Graduate student Jorge Burgos (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) had a great day at the plate, going 4-for-5 with three RBI and two runs, as the UMass Lowell baseball team (13–18, 5–7 AE) made a late push in the ninth, but fell, 14–11, against NJIT (11–19, 3–9 AE) in the final game of the series on Sunday afternoon. 

"We put up seven runs in the ninth and had the tying runner on first base, and I told the guys it says a lot about them," said Head Coach Nick Barese. "To be down like that, and eventually get the tying runner on base to end the game is impressive. At the same time, they jumped us early with five runs in the first. 
We could have minimized that inning too, and we could have gotten out of there with three runs. Then early on we had an opportunity, first and second, nobody out and we just struggled to move runners and to get runners in there. Those ultimately come back to really hurt you. 
And even late in the game, we gave them too many opportunities with walks and moving runners into scoring position. They got hits, and they scraped across five runs there in the last couple innings, which, it's hard to look back on that when you're chasing runs all day, especially when you're down by eight, nine, ten runs. But you can minimize a couple of those innings and keep it a little closer, and it changes the whole dynamic of things. It was a good weekend overall, and certainly happy with how they finished that ninth inning.
"

Redshirt-sophomore Sean O'Leary (Foxboro, Mass.) also had a good day at the plate, going 3-for-6 with three runs, as freshman Cal Chance (Wolcott, Conn.) also had three hits in five at-bats, tallying an RBI and a run in the contest. Also performing well at the plate, junior Rowan Masse (Manchester, Conn.) went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run, while sophomore Brayden Cali (Taunton, Mass.) went 2-for-3 with two runs. On the mound, graduate student Frankie DeMaro (Newburgh, N.Y.) went 3.2 innings in relief, tossing four strikeouts and allowing just one earned run. 

NJIT started the game strong, jumping out to a quick 5-0 lead in the first inning. The River Hawks, looking to fight back, got the offense rolling with two outs, as O'Leary double before senior Carlos Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico) walked to put two on. Next up, Burgos ripped an RBI single with two strikes to make it a 5-1 ballgame. DeMaro, on the bump in the second, mounted a 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout, before retiring the next three faced in the third with two more punchouts. UMass Lowell started the home half of the third with a pair of singles by Cali and Chance, but NJIT stood strong defensively, recording three outs to escape the jam. The Highlanders continued their offensive day, recording a solo home run and an RBI single to make it a 7–1 difference through four. 

Freshman Josh Doney (Lynn, Mass.) took over on the mound in the fifth inning and retired the first batter he faced, getting a 5-4-3 double play moments later. Cali, staying consistent in his at-bats, drew a walk, and then Chance singled through the right side, before they both stole a base to reach scoring position. Only a few pitches later, a passed ball allowed Cali to race home to make it 7-2. NJIT retaliated quickly, tallying two more runs in the sixth to push its lead to 9–2. The seventh inning was quick for both sides, as each went three up and three down. 

Although the Highlanders added two more runs in the eighth, UMass Lowell stayed aggressive offensively. O'Leary got things started with a single, before advancing on a passed ball and a groundout to third. Burgos followed with a double to left-center, bringing O'Leary home before Masse added an RBI single to trim the deficit to seven. In the ninth inning, after NJIT added three runs, the River Hawks slowly loaded the bases with a pair of singles by Cali and O'Leary, followed by a hit by pitch. Martinez, up to bat, stroked a single to right field, sending two runners home, before Burgos, Masse, and senior Joseph DeLanzo (Nutley, N.J.) each registered RBI singles, cutting the deficit to 14-9. Continuing their offensive surge, the River Hawks plated two more runs on an RBI single by Chance before DeLanzo came home on an error, but the Highlanders ultimately held on, escaping the bottom of the ninth to take a 14–11 outcome in the series finale on Sunday. 

The River Hawks are back on Tuesday, April 14, for a non-conference midweek contest against Stonehill at Edward A. LeLacheur Park. The game is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. in Lowell, Mass.