UMass Lowell and Marist College Split a Doubleheader

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Friday afternoon saw the end of the college baseball regular season for both UMass Lowell (23-29) and Marist College (18-33). The two teams split a doubleheader at Lelacheur Park, with the River Hawks taking game one 7-2. The Red Foxes came back to take game 2 7-3. Both teams used their rosters to complete the twin-bill, now they can set their sights on next week and tournament baseball.

Game one featured the lineup that should start in the America East tournament next week for the River Hawks. Michael Simes got the start and threw one scoreless inning. His coach, Nick Barese, has hinted that Simes could be the starting pitcher next Wednesday when the River Hawks get going in the tournament. He was followed to the mound by seven other pitchers who may, or may not, have serious roles next week. They would throw eight innings giving up five hits, two earned runs, five strikeouts, and five walks. The third pitcher of the afternoon, Andres Hulfachor (2-1) got the win. He came into the game with the score tied at 2-2. UMass Lowell scored two runs in the second, third, and fourth innings. Conor Kelly (2-4, 3 RBI) put his team on the scoreboard with a 2-run single to right field that scored both Carlos Martinez and Ryan Proto (2-hit game). 2-1 River Hawks after two.

In the third, Kelly and Alex Luccini came through with RBI singles off of Jack Keenan to give the team their first lead at 4-2. Fritz Genther (2-hit game) and Martinez stroked RBI base hits in the fourth off Keenan to increase the lead to 6-2 after four. UMass Lowell would go on from there to take game one 7-2.

Game two saw a milestone reached by River Hawks catcher Ryan Proto. He played in his 200th game as a member of the River Hawks. He became the third player in program history and the first catcher to reach that milestone. Proto has been a rock behind the plate for UMass Lowell in his five years with the program. He will be missed in 2025. As for the game, Miles Cota got the start and looked good in his one inning of work. As did LJ Keevan, who threw a scoreless second inning. A possible good sign with the postseason ahead. Unfortunately for the River Hawks, it went downhill from there. Dylan Bedder allowed a run in the third on a sac-fly by Bayram Hot to make it 1-0 Marist in the third. UMass Lowell tied the game in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by River Hart and it was 1-1 after three.

Marist College sent eight men to the plate in the fourth against Kevin Rourke (1-1). They plated three runs on four hits with RBI going to Danny Moshier (2-for-4, 2 RBI) Colin Mackie, and Ethan Conrad (2-for-4, RBI). It was a 4-1 Marist College lead after four innings. They added two more in the fifth. Johnny Decker with an RBI double to left, was brought home on a base hit by Moshier. 6-1 Marist College. Hot would homer to left in the sixth off of James Capellupo to make it a 7-1 game. The River Hawks added single runs in both the sixth and seventh on a Ryan Strand double to center field and Sean O’Leary singled home a run to make the final score Marist College 7 UMass Lowell 3.

The winning pitcher, Will Taylor was very good for Marist going two innings of one-hit, zero-run baseball. He walked no one and struck out two. He was one of the better arms used by either team on Friday.

After the game, coach Barese said he “thought it was important for his pitching staff to feel good about themselves.” The goal on Friday was “To feel good about ourselves.” When asked about the regular season, he said “It was inconsistent.” He thought the team did not live up to the expectations they set for themselves.

All that could change in Binghamton next week when the America East tournament gets underway. At the moment, UMass Lowell does not know who they will face. However, they do know they will play on Wednesday afternoon in a win-or-go-home first-round game.