University of Maine
UMass Lowell
Baseball Splits Doubleheader at UMass Lowell on Sunday
4/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
LOWELL, Mass. – The University of Maine baseball team split an America East doubleheader with UMass Lowell on Sunday afternoon in Lowell, Mass. The Black Bears defeated the River Hawks 5-4 in the first game, before falling in the nightcap 10-6.
Maine moves to 11-19 on the season and 2-6 in America East play. UMass Lowell sees its record move to 7-16 overall, 3-5 in conference action.
In the first game, Maine jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Sam Balzano (Portland, Maine) led off the game with a walk and scored when Brett Chappell (Rock Falls, Ill.) hit a sacrifice fly.
UMass Lowell, however, answered with a run in the bottom of the frame. The River Hawks then scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 3-1 lead.
Maine took the lead back with three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Luke Morrill (South Thomaston, Maine) doubled, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on an error. Jonathan Salcedo (Providence, R.I.) reached on an error. Brian Doran (Ayr, Ontario) followed with a home run over the right field fence. For Doran, it was his first home run of the season.
UMass Lowell tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Danny Mendick doubled to left center and scored when Ian Strom hit a sacrifice fly.
Maine grabbed the lead back in the top of the sixth inning. Brenden Geary (South Hadley, Mass.) singled and Steven Adam (Tecumseh, Ontario) pinch ran for him. Adam scored when Balzano hit a sacrifice fly.
Scott Heath (Westbrook, Maine) went 4.1 innings and allowed four runs on eight hits. Jacob Gosselin-Deschesnes (Montreal, Quebec) went the final 2.2 innings to earn the win. He allowed just one hit and improves to 2-1 on the season.
Geoff DeGroot went six innings on the mound for the River Hawks and allowed five runs, just two of which were earned, on five hits. He suffers the loss and falls to 1-2. Thulani Dennaro replaced DeGroot and went the final inning.
In the second game, UMass Lowell jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Maine got on the board with a run in the top of the third inning. Geary doubled down the left field line and scored when Doran singled. The Black Bears tied the game in the top of the fourth inning. Morrill reached on an error and scored when Geary doubled to right center.
Lowell, however, answered back with four runs in the bottom of the frame to extend its lead to 6-2. Mendick highlighted the inning for the River Hawks with a two-run double.
Maine answered right back. Balzano and Shane Bussey (Boynton Beach, Fla.) led off the top of the fifth inning with back-to-back singles. Both runners scored when Morrill doubled to center field.
UMass Lowell got the runs right back in the bottom of the frame. Luke Reynolds had a RBI single for UMass Lowell and then scored the second run of the inning on an error.
Maine got one run in the seventh inning. Chappell and Morrill drew back-to-back walks to and Christian Garabedian (Miami, Fla.) singled to load the bases. Chappell scored when Geary reached on a fielder's choice.
UMass Lowell answered back again with a pair of runs to push its lead to 10-5.
The Black Bears capped the scoring with a run in the top of the ninth inning. Geary walked and scored on a Balzano single.
Jake Marks (Sarnia, Ontario) got the start in the second game and went three innings. He allowed four runs on seven hits. Charlie Butler (Marlborough, Mass.) replaced Marks. Butler went two innings and allowed four runs, two of which were earned, on five hits. Connor Johnson (Taunton, Mass.) replaced Butler on the mound. Johnson went two innings and allowed two runs on three hits. Jonah Normandeau (Cumberland, Maine) pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the Black Bears.
Kevin Veilleux got the start for UMass Lowell and went 6.1 innings. He allowed five runs, four of which were earned, on nine hits. Christian Lavoie replaced Veilleux and went 1.1 innings. Ian Strom went the final 1.1 innings for The River Hawks and allowed one run on one hit.
The Black Bears return to action on Tuesday, April 14 when they host UMPI at 5 PM at Mahaney Diamond.
