Strong Offensive Output Gives Baseball A Split vs. UMass Lowell
BOX ONE I BOX TWO
ALBANY, N.Y. – After dropping the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, 11-4, to UMass Lowell, the Great Danes' bats answered to take a 12-2 victory in the second outing of the afternoon. UAlbany now stands at 13-21 (6-7 America East), while UMass Lowell has an overall record of 13-23 (9-7 America East).
In the first matchup, the River Hawks crossed the plate to go up 1-0 with a Geoff DeGroot double to left field that sent in Matthew Sanchez from second base.
The Great Danes responded in the bottom half of the inning thanks to a Craig Lepre double that sent in both Eric Mueller and Shawn Blake to put UAlbany up 2-1.
In the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, UMass Lowell added a run in each of these frames. Matt Mottola scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Rooney in the top of the fourth. In the following inning, DeGroot crossed the plate after Jimmy Ricoy sent a single out to center field to put the River Hawks up 5-2.
The UMass bats exploded in the top of the seventh with a RBI from Joe Consolmagno and a bases loaded single by Ricoy to send in Sanchez and Kelly Rooney. By the end of the inning, UMass Lowell held a 10-2 lead over UAlbany.
The Great Danes managed to pull back in the bottom half of the frame as Adam Mund sent the ball down the left field line to bring in Matt Hinchy. Later in the inning, Will Miller singled to center field, to send Mund home.
But the Danes were unable to get any more runs that inning and for the rest of the game. UMass Lowell put across another run in the top of the ninth to close out the first game.
Andrew Ryan (2-1) picked up the win for the River Hawks, going 6.0 innings with seven strikeouts.
UAlbany's Brendan Ryan (1-4) took the loss, throwing for 4.0 innings with four earned runs. Joey Moore pitched 2.1 innings, allowing six earned runs.
The Great Danes responded in the second matchup with a multitude of hits and runs to power them to a victory.
The Danes started off the game hot and didn't look back. In the bottom of the first, Blake sent a double to right center to bring in Alex Lushkevich.
After an error by the River Hawks third baseman that sent in two UAlbany players, Karson Canaday singled to the left side, bringing in both Mueller and Lepre to put the Danes up 5-0.
In the very next inning, with the bases loaded, Hinchy tripled on a 1-1 count to send Blake, Lushkevich and Will Miller all home. Hinchy would later score on a wild pitch.
With the Danes up 9-0, UMass Lowell placed a small dent into the lead when DeGroot singled to left field, which scored Rooney.
After giving up the run in the top of the third, UAlbany responded with Lushkevich hitting a sacrifice fly to left field, which left Kenny Hayden to tag home from third, putting the Danes up 10-1.
The River Hawks managed to add one more run in the top of the fifth off a Mendick single to score Rooney. But the Danes once again managed to return the favor, scoring two more runs thanks to RBI's from Miller and Blake.
Daniel Castro ended the game with two strikeouts in the seventh to give UAlbany the victory.
Stephen Woods (3-5) picked up the win, tossing 6.0 innings with seven strikeouts and just two earned runs. For the River Hawks, Kevin Veilleux (4-4), was given loss, giving up eight earned runs in 3.0 innings pitched.
Miller UAlbany at the plate, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
The Danes will finish up their series against the River Hawks with a noon start on Sunday at Varsity Field.
