Merrimack Downs UMass Lowell 8-7 in Non-League Play

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Self-inflicted wounds and bad base running mistakes are just some of the things that have plagued the UMass Lowell River Hawks (11-22) this season. Those mistakes were on display Tuesday night at LeLacheur Park as the River Hawks played host to a Merrimack Warriors team (9-22) that was trying to snap a five-game losing streak. The 8-7 win by the Warriors was helped out by not only the mental mistakes but also a lack of strike-throwing by River Hawks pitchers. UMass Lowell allowed eight walks on the night. As River Hawks head coach Ken Harring said afterward, “The name of the game is throwing strikes” and the River Hawks did not throw enough of them. Merrimack pitchers, on the other hand, were better in that department. Three pitchers combined to walk four while striking out five. Not great but better than the home team.

Zack Rogers got the start for UMass Lowell and three pitches into his outing he was down 1-0. LF Michael Golankiewicz (2-for-5, 1 RS, 2 RBI) took Rodgers over the wall in right for his third home run of the season. Lowell would get that run back in the bottom of the first against Warriors starting pitcher Louis Cespedes on a sac fly by CF Gerry Siracusa that scored Jacob Humphrey who led the inning off by getting plucked by Cespedes. Rodgers had a rough night, (1.2 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO, 1WP) and he could not make it out of the second inning before giving up three more runs. His replacement, Shane Bogli, was not much better giving up four hits and three earned runs in 1.1 innings of work. UMass Lowell did get those three runs back in the bottom of the third. An RBI triple off the bat of LF Alex Luccini (2-for-4, 2 RS, 2 RBI) scored both Siracusa and Robert Gallagher (3-for-5, 1 RS, RBI). Then Luccini was brought home on a sac fly by DH Tray Brown. Cespedes’ night was over (2.2 IP, five hits, four earned runs) with Merrimack holding a 7-4 lead after three innings.

The good news on the night for the River Hawks came from their third pitcher of the night Brian Foley. The freshmen RHP from Milton, MA. calmed the game down for the River Hawks and allowed them to crawl back into the game. He would go 5.1 IP, give up two hits, and one unearned run. He did walk four but also struck out four. He would have three one-two-three innings in his outing. Afterward, his coach said, “He needs to start feeling good.” Tuesday night was a step in that direction. That unearned run by the Warriors would turn out to be a difference-maker. It came in the fifth with runners on first and second. Merrimack second baseman Stephen Santarpia chopped one to third that River Hawks third baseman Brandon Fish (back in the lineup for the first time since March, 29) could not field. The error allowed Brayton Dolbashian (2-for-3, three runs scored) to score from second with the eighth run of the night for Merrimack.

The River Hawks did give themselves a chance to steal it in the later innings. Backup catcher Jake Fitzgibbons hit his first HR of the season over the scoreboard in right off of Warriors reliever James Borsari (5.1 IP, five hits, two earned runs) to bring the River Hawks to within 8-5. Two batters later, Humphrey singled to LF and then stole his 10th base of the year. He scored on Gallagher’s single to RF to make it 8-6 Merrimack. The rally ended when Siracusa flew out to center field. After eight, the Warriors had an 8-6 lead. The River Hawks went back to the pen and called on Zack Fortuna for the ninth. He would pitch a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts. Jack Collins was brought in by Merrimack head coach Brian Murphy to save the game for the Warriors. An infield single by Luccini got things going for UMass Lowell. After a Brown strikeout, coach Harring went to his bench. Fritz Genther flew out to deep left-center that advanced Luccini to second. Luccini then scored on PH’s Trevor Crosby’s single to left. 8-7 Merrimack. Harring went back to his bench for his third straight pinch hitter in Frank Wayman. However, Wayman never saw a pitch because Collins caught Crosby leaning toward second base and picked him off to end the ballgame and give Merrimack the 8-7 win.

Coach Harring was not pleased with how his team performed on Tuesday night. He did not think “his team was ready to play from the opening pitch.” The self-inflicted mistakes are hurting this team. The coach is hopeful that this team is learning from them. They get the chance to correct them on Wednesday afternoon when they head to Kingston, RI to face the Rhode Island Rams. Miles Cota will get the start for UMass Lowell. Borsari gets the win and he is now 1-2. Collins gets save number one on the year. Rodgers takes the loss and he is now 0-1.