UMBC Sweeps Doubleheader from UMass Lowell

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A long day and night took place on Friday at Lelacheur Park due to inclement weather that was heading to the Merrimack Valley area. Because of this, UMBC (13-15, 6-5) and UMass Lowell (12-21, 4-7) played a doubleheader. It turned out to be a great decision for UMBC, as they would take both ends of the twin-bill by scores of 5-4 in eight innings in game one, then 8-2 in game two. The wins snapped a two-game losing streak for the Retrievers, while it extended the River Hawks’ losing streak to five games.

After the doubleheader was over, UML head coach Nick Barese said, “We have to do better in all three phases of the game.” In game one, things were looking good for the home team. In a game that was scheduled for seven innings, starting pitcher Alfred Mucciarone did exactly what the team wanted. He went six innings, allowed only three hits, one earned run, walked three, and struck out nine. He threw 107 pitches, 66 for strikes. The pitch count in the end would become the problem.

Before that occurred, the River Hawks were in good shape to take game one. They took a 4-1 lead to the top of the seventh inning. After UMBC tied the game at 1-1 in the third on an RBI sac-fly from Leewood Molessa, UMass Lowell went to work against UMBC starting pitcher Logan Wiley. They retook the lead on a double play ball hit by Scott Donahue that scored Alex Luccini, who led off the inning with a walk. Wiley’s day would end with a line of two innings, three hits, two earned runs, four walks, and two K’s.

They would add two more in the fourth off relief pitcher Emmett Tolis. An RBI base hit from Luccini down the right field line scored Ryan Strand with the third run. Luccini would eventually cross home plate on a throwing error by UMBC’s catcher Danny Whatt to make it 4-1 UMass Lowell. Mucciarone was cruising, retiring nine of the next ten batters he faced. But the pitch count was getting past the 100-pitch number. Coach Barese said, “They had a plan.” That plan was to bring Nick DiRito in to close out the game.

However, the plan backfired. DiRito did not have closer stuff, and the Retrievers would bat around in the top of the seventh. A single by Derek Paris (2-for-3, 2 RS) was followed by two straight walks. With the bases loaded, DiRito got Kyle Eddington to pop out to SS. But then CF Jesiah Carpenter (2-for-3, 2 RBI, RS) singled to center field, scoring two runs. He advanced on a throwing error by Luccini. Anthony Mascuilli then hit a sac-fly to center that scored the third run of the inning. A blown save for DiRito and a no-decision for Mucciarone.

Meanwhile, Tolis was doing his job, going four innings, giving up two hits, two runs, and one earned. He walked two and struck out three. With the game now tied, he handed the ball over to maybe the best relief pitcher in the league, Nick Remy. Who went two innings and retired all six batters he faced. His team would give him the lead in the eighth against Dylan Bedder. After a HBP to Paris, Danny Wyatt reached on a misplayed fly ball down the RF line by River Hawks RF Carlos Martinez. Paris scored on a Bedder wild pitch, and it was 5-4 UMBC. Remy gets the win, and he is now 5-0. Bedder takes the loss, and he is 1-2.

Game two was scheduled for nine innings. UMass Lowell started Brendan Holland (2-5), and his coach thought his outing was “ok.” A 0-0 game through four innings came apart in the fifth. After getting the first out, five straight hitters produced base hits. Danny Orr (3-for-5, 2 RS, RBI) hit a RBI single, Wyatt hit an RBI single, three walks, and two wild pitches that would score runs. Holland (4.1 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO, WP) and Brian Foley (0 IP, 2 ER, 3 BB, WP) combined to give up all seven runs in the inning. After UMBC starter Eddie Sargent went the first 4.1 allowing nine hits and two earned runs, the bullpen duo of Aiden Gonzalez (1.1 IP, with all zeros) and Brady Fox (3 IP, one hit) retired 13 of the 17 batters they faced. Gonzalez took the win (3-0), and Fox got his first save. UMBC wins game two 8-2.

The only good news Barese could come up with for game two was the three innings of relief from Jake LeFrancois, one hit, one walk, and three strikeouts. Another positive is Carlos Martinez, who with a hit in each game, now has an 11-game hitting streak. The coach is frustrated with his team “making the same mistakes over and over.” When asked if he thought his team was beating itself, his answer was “100 percent yes.”

They will play on Sunday afternoon, weather permitting. First pitch is set for noon.

Postgame interview: