Sean O'Leary's Two HRs and 4 RBI Leads UMass Lowell to a 20-10 Run-Rule win

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On Tuesday afternoon at LeLacheur Park, both the Stonehill Skyhawks (13-18, 11-4) and the UMass Lowell River Hawks (14-18, 5-7) used this mid-week encounter to give players live game action and rest several starters. In doing so, the game was a bit of a mess at times. Hitters on both sides took advantage of below-average pitching to beef up their stats, but in the end, the River Hawks did more with their opportunities. UML collected a 20-10 win that was stopped after eight innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

There were several hitting stars on both sides. For Stonehill, CF Sam Parks went 3-for-5 with two RBI, first baseman Nathan Kearney was 2-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI, and catcher Tyler Redden went 2-for-4. For UMass Lowell, LF Cal Chance had a massive five-hit game, totaling four runs scored and four RBI. Carlos Martinez added a three-hit performance with three RBI and the walk-off hit in the eighth inning. After the game, Martinez noted it was his first career walk-off as he extended his hitting streak to seven games. Second baseman Rowan Masse and third baseman Joseph DeLanzo also contributed two hits apiece. While Stonehill banged out 14 hits, the River Hawks matched their run total with 20 hits of their own.

Pitching and defense told a different story. Neither team found much rhythm on the mound or in the field. The Skyhawks committed five errors that led to four unearned runs for UML. The River Hawks were sharper in the field, making only one error and turning two double plays in the first two innings. The second twin kill came in the top of the second with the bases loaded. The two pitching staffs combined to throw 339 pitches across 11 different pitchers. If you were looking for offense, this was your type of game; if you were looking for a pitcher’s duel, you had to look away.

UMass Lowell launched two home runs, both off the bat of Sean O’Leary (4-for-5), marking his fourth and fifth of the year. He now has 25 RBI on the season. In the second inning, he went opposite-field to left off Dan Lang on a 2-2 changeup. In the fifth, he crushed a fastball from Tanyon Weber over the right-field wall. “It was a plus count, I was looking for a fastball, got it and did not miss it,” O’Leary said. He thrived in the leadoff role, a spot he didn’t know he was taking until he arrived at the park. Head coach Nick Barese indicated he may stick with Tuesday’s lineup for this weekend’s series at UMBC, noting that the lineup batted around twice during the game.

Stonehill also went yard with a three-run bomb from Jackson Enders in the sixth inning off Liam Rose. The shot barely cleared the left-field wall and sparked a four-run inning, Stonehill’s biggest of the day. It was a rough day for pitchers on both sides, with too many “fat” pitches over the middle of the plate getting hammered. River Hawks starter Evan Cornelius escaped early trouble with those double plays—a 3-6-1 in the first and a 1-2-3 in the second—but he eventually surrendered three runs in the third. All six pitchers used by the Skyhawks allowed runs, starting with Lang (2-3), who took the loss. This marked the ninth time this season Stonehill has allowed 10 or more runs.

For UMass Lowell, three of the five pitchers used gave up runs, while the final two secured the decision. Tyler Dumlea pitched the seventh, facing four batters and pitching around a misplay to earn the win (1-1). Martinez pitched the eighth, retiring all three batters he faced to earn the save, his fourth in five tries. Because he entered with a 13-10 lead in the eighth, he was eligible for the save before the offense ended the game in the bottom half.

Looking ahead to the weekend series in Baltimore, Barese noted the River Hawks will face a “good, older team” in UMBC. He highlighted that they play in a small ballpark where the ball tends to jump, meaning keeping the ball down and in the park will be the key to success for UML.