UMass Lowell Drops 13–12 Thriller to Binghamton in Wild Regular Season Finale

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The America East Conference regular season went out with a chaotic, high-scoring bang on Saturday afternoon at LeLacheur Park. In a game that was as much a baseline test for the postseason bullpen as it was a Senior Day celebration, the UMass Lowell River Hawks (20-29, 10-14) fell just short in a 13–12 offensive marathon against the Binghamton Bearcats (28-20, 17-7).

With tournament seeding already locked into place, both coaching staffs emptied their dugouts, giving lesser-used arms a chance to log critical work. The result was a beautiful, 25-run mess that featured 32 combined hits and plenty of late-inning fireworks.

Late-Inning Chaos Inside the Box Score

While the Bearcats were held completely scoreless through the first three frames, their offense erupted in the middle and late innings, highlighted by four-run outbursts in both the fourth and eighth.

The game-defining swing for Binghamton came in the top of the eighth inning. Trailing late, designated hitter Tommy Popoff crushed a towering three-run home run to left field off UML reliever Liam Rose, momentarily seizing a 12–11 lead for the Bearcats. Left fielder Zack Kent was equally lethal, turning in a 3-for-4 day with 2 RBI and a run scored, while Andrew Heppner launched his fourth homer of the year in the fourth inning off Jacob Jette as part of a 2-hit, 2-RBI afternoon.

The River Hawks refused to go quietly in the ninth, but the Bearcats’ bullpen managed to lock the door. Alden Milburn (5-2) earned the victory in relief, while Brady Lesiak pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth to secure his first save of the season.

The Deciding Run: In the top of the ninth, Binghamton’s Steven Krauss drew a leadoff walk against UML’s Kevin Rourke (0-2). Pinch-runner Sam Miller advanced safely before Bearcats catcher Tim Hennig (3-for-3, 1 RBI) drove him home with a deep, game-winning sacrifice fly, tagging Rourke with the hard-earned loss.

Saturday’s Stat Leaders & Key Performers

Player (Team)	Line / Stats	Impact on the Game
Nicholas Solorzano (UML)	3 Hits, Solo HR (7th of season)	Smashed a 5th-inning homer off Colin Rheim in his final home game.
Carlos Martinez (UML)	3 Hits, 1 RS	Kept the chains moving in a flawless offensive Senior Day display.
Tommy Popoff (BU)	1-for-4, 3-Run HR, 3 RBI	Delivered the go-ahead 3-run blast in the 8th frame.
Rowan Masse (UML)	2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 RS	Provided excellent run production in the middle of the lineup.

Postseason Rotations Take Shape

Both teams used the afternoon to carefully script their pitching lines ahead of next week’s America East Tournament in Binghamton:

For UMass Lowell: Ace Alfred Mucciarone got the ceremonial start, delivering 2.0 clean, scoreless innings on exactly 30 pitches while forcing 4 groundouts. He remains fully fresh and has been named the official starter for Wednesday afternoon’s high-stakes play-in game against Bryant.
For Binghamton: Jackson Mitchell handled the opening stretch, tossing 2.0 innings while surrendering 3 hits and 2 earned runs. He is expected to take the mound as the Bearcats’ starter when their tournament schedule opens on Thursday morning.

The Foundation is Laid

Despite the narrow loss, River Hawks head coach Nick Barese was incredibly optimistic about his squad’s trajectory. He noted with relief that the team exited the regular season “completely healthy” and praised the lineup’s explosive 12-run weekend performance as proof that UML can “do serious damage” in the postseason.

Barese also shared a heartfelt tribute to the 12 departing players making up this year’s senior class, a group that played error-free defense on Saturday while anchoring the roster through a transitional year.

“They are one of the best groups I have ever coached,” Barese said. “They have created the structural foundation that future classes here will have to live up to.”

Bright Futures at LeLacheur Park

The program’s long-term health received another major boost with the announcement that LeLacheur Park will soon undergo a massive remodeling project. Fueled by the stadium’s partnership with the Future Summer Collegiate Baseball League, the modernized facilities are expected to serve as a high-tier recruiting tool to lure elite talent to Lowell.

But before the construction crews roll in, the River Hawks have a championship to chase. All eyes now pivot to Wednesday’s do-or-die opener.