River Hawks Down Bearcats in Game One of Doubleheader

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BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — The UMass Lowell River Hawks baseball team (5-10, 4-2 AE) split a Saturday doubleheader against America East opponent Binghamton (2-4, 2-4 AE) at NYSEG Stadium, earning a dominant 14-1 victory in game one, but falling by a score of 3-2 in game two.

“It was a tale of two different games today,” commented Head Coach Ken Harring “We’re continuing to play good baseball and are getting major contributions up and down the lineup. The offense is starting to click and we are looking forward to what we can show tomorrow.”

Game one saw the River Hawks and the Bearcats combine for 20 hits, including nine doubles, eight of which came from the visitors.

Sophomore catcher Ryan Proto (Centerville, Mass) went 4-for-4 with two doubles and 3 RBI, while classmate Keagan Calero (Rochester, N.H.) went 2-for-4 at the plate, tallying his third home run of the 2021 campaign.

The Bearcats opened the scoring with their lone run on an RBI triple in the bottom of the first inning. However, the River Hawk offense quickly got to work, as Proto singled to third, advancing junior Cedric Rose (Pittsfield, Mass.) to second. Sophomore Jonny Gilbride (Canonsburg, Pa.) pushed the game’s first run across with a single through the left side that scored Rose, followed by a Robert Gallagher (Mullica Hill, N.J.) single to bring Proto home. Senior Joey Castellanos (Nutley, N.J.) gave the River Hawks a two-run lead when he doubled to left field to bring around both Gilbride and Gallagher.

UMass Lowell got three more in each of the third and fourth innings, as Gilbride tallied a two-RBI double in the third, and redshirt-senior Cam Climo (Billerica, Mass.) and Proto added a RBI single and double, respectively, in the fourth to give the River Hawks 10-1 lead at the midway point.

The River Hawks’ final tally would come in the top of the sixth when senior Vinnie Martin (Lodi, N.J.) walked and junior Gerry Siracusa (Kinnelon, N.J.) doubled to left to put themselves in scoring position. Rose drove in Martin, while Proto doubled to right to bring home Siracusa. Calero would give the River Hawks their final two runs courtesy of his homer to left.

Redshirt senior right-handed starting pitcher Collin Duffley (Manchester, N.H.) grabbed the win on the mound. He struck out three over six frames while giving up one earned run on six hits and a walk. Junior lefty transfer Jake Randolph (Exeter, N.H.) made his debut on the mound, striking out one.

UMass Lowell rolled the momentum into the second game, as Gallagher walked and advanced on a passed ball to set himself up at second. Castellanos then singled up the right side to bring in Gallagher. Siracusa would knock in the final tally of the day for the visitors after a base hit to center-plated Castellanos.

However, the River Hawk lead was short-lived, as the Bearcats answered with runs in the second and third to equalize the score, 2-2. Jake Evans delivered the heroics for Binghamton in the seventh, scoring the game-winner on a wild pitch.

Junior righty starter Matt Draper (Lowell, Mass.) was tagged with the pitching loss for the visiting squad. He struck out four while giving up three runs on six hits and two walks in six innings of work.

Both teams will be unable to take the field today due to a rainout for the series finale.