BALTIMORE, Md. – Redshirt-sophomore Sean O'Leary (Foxboro, Mass.) hit 2-for-3 with a home run, while also recording three RBI and two runs in the contest, as the UMass Lowell baseball team (15–20, 6–9 AE) dropped the series finale, 12–11, at UMBC (18-16, 7–5 AE) on Sunday afternoon.

"Tough result, but the guys competed the whole way," Head Coach Nick Barese. "We need to regroup and get ready for a big week ahead."

Freshman Cal Chance (Wolcott, Conn.) went 3-for-5 with a double at the plate, while junior Rowan Masse (Manchester, Conn.) posted two hits with three runs scored and an RBI, and senior Zachary Scott (Lunenburg, Mass.) also tallied two hits with two RBI and a run in the outing. Freshman Josh Doney (Lynn, Mass.) made the first start of his collegiate career on the bump, pitching 4.0 innings with a strikeout. Out of the bullpen, sophomore Jake LeFrancois (Worcester, Mass.) went 3.0 innings with two strikeouts.

The River Hawks put two on base to open the game, as O'Leary was hit by a pitch and Chance knocked a single, but the Retrievers were able to get out of the jam. UMBC followed with two runs in the bottom of the first for an early advantage. Senior Carlos Martinez (Coamo, Puerto Rico) reached on a walk to begin the second before graduate student Nicholas Solorzano (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) added a base hit. After junior Scott Donahue (Medfield, Mass.) moved Martinez to third on a fielder's choice, Masse came up with a single past the shortstop, driving in the first run of the game for UMass Lowell to make it 2–1. DeLanzo then knocked a base hit to bring in another run before junior Ryan Strand (Goffstown, N.H.) walked and O'Leary ripped a two-run single to put the River Hawks in front, 4–2. Both sides went three up and three down in the third, UMBC used a lead-off solo home run in the home half of the fourth to cut the difference to 4-3. 

The River Hawks retaliated in the fifth with a lead-off homer of their own for a 5–3 edge. However, the Retrievers hit back-to-back home runs as part of a four-run rally to take the lead, 9–5. In the sixth, Donahue singled, Masse was hit by a pitch and senior Joseph DeLanzo (Nutley, N.J.) reached on a fielder's choice before Masse stole third and advanced home on an error. Strand then drilled the ball over the left field wall for a two-run homer, cutting the deficit to just 9–8. Following a 6–4–3 double play to end the sixth, Chance doubled for UMass Lowell, but the score remained unchanged before LeFrancois retired the side in the seventh. 

UMass Lowell was searching for a late comeback in the eighth, as Masse reached on an error and O'Leary was intentionally walked with two outs. After O'Leary stole second, Scott delivered on a clutch two-out situation, knocking a two-run single to put the visitors in front, 10–9. Chance came next and ripped a single to right field before an error allowed Scott to score and create an 11–9 lead. However, UMBC tallied a run to make it a one score game, 11–10, before the River Hawks escaped the inning on a flyout. The game came down to the bottom of the ninth when UMBC plated two runs to come from behind for the 12-11 decision. 

The River Hawks are back in action Wednesday, April 22, at Edward A. LeLacheur Park when they face Merrimack for the second time this season in non-conference action. The game is set to start at 6 p.m. in Lowell, Mass.