River Hawks’ Bats Come Alive In Friday Sweep Over Hartford

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LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell River Hawks baseball team posted 7-4 and 7-1 victories over Hartford in an America East doubleheader sweep at LeLacheur Park on Friday afternoon.

Every single River Hawk that entered the day recorded at least one hit. Sophomore Cedric Rose (Pittsfield, Mass.) led the charge with a .667 batting average (4-for-6), including a 1.333 slugging percentage and four RBI. Redshirt-senior Cam Climo (Billerica, Mass.) totaled three hits and four RBI as well, with two of the hits coming off of home run tallies in game two. Sophomore Ryan Proto (Centerville, Mass.) and senior Joey Castellanos (Nutley, N.J.) were solid as well, each batting above .600.

Sophomore Cam Seguin (Woburn, Mass.) and junior Joshua Becker (Burlington, Mass.) each picked up a win in their respective games, as Becker led all staff with nine strikeouts on the day. Lowell, Mass. natives, Matt Draper and Henry Funaro put in work at the mound, with Draper tallying the save in game one and Funaro coming away in game two.

“It was a great day of baseball,” commented Head Coach Ken Harring. “We need to come out and do it again tomorrow.”

The Hawks were able to break open the scoring in game one thanks to a defensive miscue in the top of the first inning. The visitors then put together a two-run rally in the second, stretching their lead to 4-0.

Although things looked dim early on, the River Hawks came to life in the top of the second connecting on three important hits. A crucial one came off the bat of Rose who sent a hardball through the right side to plate Proto and get his squad on the board.

Both teams powered through the third, retiring each of their sides in order. However, the hosts attacked in the fourth with a four-run, fourth-inning rally on four hits, including Rose’s fifth career home run that gave the home team their first advantage of the contest, 5-4. Castellanos played a role in two of those runs, knocking in Proto and Climo on a three-bagger to the dead center wall.

Not backing down, the River Hawks continued their charge into the sixth when rookie Jimmy Sullivan (East Hampton, Conn.) sent a single shot up the middle, sending home sophomore Keagan Calero (Rochester, N.H.) and freshman Roddy Hernandez (Jersey City, N.J.) to deepen the River Hawk deficit.

In the Hawks’ final trip to the dish, Draper robbed two of their chances with impressive stops at the mound, helping to secure the 7-4 victory.

Turning the tables in game two, it would be the River Hawks who got on the board first. Climo led off the second with his first bulls’ eye of the outing, sending one long off the center-field signage. Proto would make his way around the bases next, stealing second and going three on a wild toss over the plate, followed by an RBI groundout from Rose to put UMass Lowell in front, 2-0.

A defensive battle ensued in the third as the teams went three-up and three-down. However, the Hawks would have a chance to threaten in the fourth and fifth leaving three runners stranded. Rose would get things started again with a single through the left side in the home half of the fifth and would advance on a passed ball before scoring on a two-out, RBI single by sophomore Jonny Gilbride (Beverly, Mass.) for the 3-0 advantage.

The River Hawks would extend their lead to 4-0 in the sixth putting runners on second and third after another wild pitch from the Hartford staff. Climo would draw the throw to first in his next at-bat, sending Calero who had previously been walked sliding over home plate.

Striking in the top of the eighth, the Hawks would plate their one and only run of the contest on a base hit to left. However, the River Hawks were able to seal the decision in their next trip with the help of Climo’s second homer of the day and tenth of the season. Threatening in their last chance, the Hawks would advance a runner to third on one out; however, Proto fired one down to second to catch a runner stealing and end it all, 7-1.

The two teams are right back at it tomorrow afternoon to close out the series. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m.