Bulldogs eliminated from America East Tournament

VESTAL, N.Y. – Fifth-seeded UMass Lowell earned a 6-0 victory over the fourth-seeded Bryant University baseball team in the first game of the 2023 America East Baseball Championships at the Bearcats Baseball Complex.

With the loss, the Bulldogs' season comes to a close with a 26-24 record. UMass Lowell advances into the double-elimination portion of the tournament and will face either top-seeded Maine or second-seeded UMBC on Thursday.

The River Hawks struck for three runs in the first two innings and starter Josh Becker made it stand up, retiring the first 13 batters he faced. He went on to allow just three hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out eight. 

Coleman Picard struck out eight over 6.0 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits.  

Game Information
No. 5 UMass Lowell 6, No. 4 Bryant 0
Records: Bryant 26-24 | UMass Lowell 20-33
Location: Bearcats Baseball Complex (Vestal, N.Y.)
W|L|S: Becker | Picard

Key Moments

• Jacob Humphrey led off the game with an opposite-field home run to spark the River Hawks.

How it Happened

• Humphrey opened the game with an opposite-field home run to right field. Robert Gallagher was then hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on a single from Ryan Proto.
• In the second, Matt Tobin and Roddy Hernandez delivered back-to-back two-out hits to plate a run.
• On the other side, Becker was locked in from the start, retiring the first 13 Bulldogs. He allowed his first baserunners in the fifth, hitting Matt Smith before giving up a single to John Hosmer. Becker responded by retiring the next two to get out of the jam.
• UML extended its lead to 5-0 with a pair of runs in the fifth. Humphrey hit his second home of the game and Proto drove in a run with a two-out single.
• The River Hawks added an insurance run in the ninth on a wild pitch.

Inside the Box Score

• Picard allowed five runs on eight hits and struck out eight over 6.0 innings.
• Austin Wainer tossed 3.0 innings of relief. He allowed un an earned run, walked two and struck out two. 
• Justin Hackett, Carmine Petosa and John Hosmer picked up Bryant's three hits. 
• UML's Josh Becker tossed a complete game shutout, allowing just three hits. He didn't issue a walk and struck out eight. 

Game Notes

• Bryant was playing in its first America East Baseball Championships.
• The Bulldogs have now lost six-straight games against UMass Lowell.
• Jake Gustin finished his career with 242 hits and 183 runs scored.
• Picard finished the year with 59 strikeouts in 42.0 innings this season.  
• Wainer finished the year by allowing just six runs (three earned) over his last 23.1 innings. He walked seven and struck out 22.