LeMoyne Takes Final Game of the Series With UMass Lowell, 12-6

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UMass Lowell head coach Nick Barese called it “Northeast baseball weather.” On Sunday, the River Hawks went for their first season sweep against the LeMoyne College Dolphins (5-14) at Lelacheur Park in Lowell, Ma. The sunny but cold day played a bit of a role in how the game turned out. The River Hawks defense was not sharp at all on Sunday as they committed five errors, which is a bit of a surprise, that led to two unearned runs. But as the coach said, “We need to play way better defensively.” It would force UML to play the final six innings uphill. Unfortunately for them, it was not a recipe for success. The 12-6 loss ended the first home stand for UMass Lowell (8-13, 1-2) at 3-1 which is a good start to the home schedule.

The River Hawks had a 1-0 lead through three innings thanks to another home run from CF Alex Luccini. It was his sixth of the season and his third of the weekend, coming off starter AJ Petraitis (2-1). Luccini is a strong candidate for America East Player of the Week after a week where he got nine hits in four games. Alfred Mucciarone (0-2) got the start for UML and he was on a bit of a pitch count on Sunday. Mucciarone put up zeroes through the first three innings retiring seven hitters in a row. In the fourth, things started to unravel for him. One of those five errors got him in trouble. With a run already in, Mucciarone faced CF Jack Cannon of LeMoyne. Despite a wind that was blowing in most of the game, Cannon (3-for-5, 1 RS, 6 RBI) sent a towering fly ball to right field that cleared the wall for a 3-run HR. It was his first of the season and gave the Dolphins the lead at 4-1. Mucciarone’s day would come to an end on that hit. His line was 3.1 IP, 3 H, 4 runs, and 3 earned runs. He did not walk anyone and had 5 strikeouts. In fact, one of the interesting aspects of the pitching by UML was they struck out 15 hitters for the game and walked only 4.

LeMoyne tacked on another run in the fourth to take a 5-1 into the middle innings. UMass Lowell got two of those runs back in the bottom of the fourth on a 2-run RBI single to right by Joseph DeLenzo off Petraitis (6 IP, 5 hits, 4 runs, 3 earned, 4 BB, 3 SO). The hit scored both Brandon Fish and Conor Kelly to make it a 5-3 game. Brian Foley was now on for UML He would give up a 2-run single to Cannon that plated Tyler Campbell and Tim Denet to push the lead back to 7-4 Dolphins. In the sixth, some wildness from Foley (2 wild pitches) and another 2-run base hit from Cannon made it a 10-4 game. Foley’s line was 2 IP, 5 hits, 5 runs, 4 earned runs, 1 BB, 4 SO

UML got a 2-run HR from Scott Donahue (his 3rd of the year) down the RF line in the seventh off of LeMoyne relief pitcher Jacob Crystal to make it a 10-6 Dolphins lead. The Dolphins played small ball in the ninth against UML relief pitcher Kevin Zarnock. A double from Cooper Romich was followed by bunt base hits from Mike Whelehah and Ethan Farina which scored Romich. The second run was scored on a fielders-choice ground ball. Crystal set down the River Hawks in order in the ninth to give his team the final game of the series 12-6. Petraitis gets the win and Mucciarone takes the loss.

Coach Barese thought of his team played well despite not playing well in the field. They were one pitch or play away from getting out of the trouble they got into. After a day off on Monday, UMass Lowell returns to the diamond on Tuesday afternoon when they make the 20 minute drive to North Andover, Ma. to meet Merrimack before they return to league play next weekend at home vs Bryant College.