Eight Errors by UMass Lowell Lead to 6-0 Loss to Northeastern

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For the most part, baseball is a simple game to play, but when mistakes are made, the game can get complicated. Such was the case Wednesday afternoon at LeLacheur Park as the Northeastern Huskies (13-10) visited the UMass Lowell River Hawks (8-13). While the Huskies played a clean game, the River Hawks did not. Eight errors made by the home team led to constant traffic on the bases and extra pitches for the UML hurlers, resulting in a messy game and a comfortable 6-0 victory for Northeastern.

Following the loss, UML head coach Nick Baresse noted that his team is “playing real tight” and struggling to deal with adversity. While the River Hawks can be a strong unit when things are going well, they are currently in a slump. With the season still in its early stages, there is time for a turnaround, but the team will need to find its rhythm soon to avoid a long spring.

On the mound, five Huskies combined for a dominant four-hit shutout. David McSweeney (1-1), the second pitcher of the day for NU, earned the win after throwing four innings and allowing just two hits with two strikeouts. McSweeney retired the first nine batters he faced and 12 of 14 overall. His only significant trouble occurred in the fifth inning when the River Hawks put two runners on. Carlos Martinez hit a leadoff double—the 44th of his career, making him UML’s all-time leader in doubles at the Division I level—and advanced to third on a single by Scott Donahue. McSweeney escaped the jam by inducing a fielder’s choice from Nick Solorzano. Although first baseman Anthony Riggiero dropped a pop-up, he recovered to get Donahue, who was caught between bases, before retiring Joe DeLanzo on a groundout to second.

Northeastern opened the scoring in the second inning against River Hawks starter Chris Klueber (0-1). Matthew Brinker led off with a walk and later scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Chris Walsh. In the fifth, Brinker added a sacrifice fly of his own to center field, scoring Ryan Gerety, who had doubled to right. The Huskies then extended the lead to 3-0 following an outfield error by Martinez.

In the seventh inning, Harrison Feinberg launched his fourth home run of the season, a blast to left that cleared the scoreboard off Will Melby Jr. to make it 4-0. Northeastern added two insurance runs in the ninth, first on a groundout with the infield drawn in, and then on an infield single that led to the eighth River Hawk error of the day—a throwing miscue by second baseman Rowan Masse that brought the final score to 6-0.

The Huskies’ offense was powered by the top of the order, as the first five hitters accounted for 11 of the team’s 12 hits and five of their six RBIs. Collectively, that group went 11-for-19 with a home run and six runs scored. The pitching was equally impressive, as the staff allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out six. Coach Baresse admitted it was not their best day at the plate as UMass Lowell dropped its fourth straight game. The River Hawks will look to bounce back in a home weekend series against the Maine Black Bears, while Northeastern travels to Long Island to face Hofstra University.