The Northeastern baseball team (13-10, 7-2 CAA) lost to cross-town rivals the Boston College Eagles (18-8, 6-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) 3-2 March 24 before defeating the University of Massachusetts Lowell Riverhawks (8-13, 1-2 America East) 6-0 March 25.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Andrew Basel started on the mound for the Huskies, pitching three innings and giving up one run on two hits and a walk.
After a three up, three down first inning for both teams, BC got on the board first in the top of the second. After senior right fielder Jack Toomey doubled down the left field line and advanced to third on a sacrifice fly, a sacrifice groundout for freshman third baseman Luke Gallo brought Toomey home to put the Eagles up 1-0. Although a fielding error put graduate student designated hitter Carter Hendrickson on second, a strikeout ended the top of the inning.
The Huskies got on the board in the bottom of the third after a single and two walks loaded the bases. Redshirt senior left fielder Harrison Feinberg knocked a single to shallow right field to bring home redshirt freshman first baseman Anthony Ruggiero, tying the game at one.
After a BC pitching change in the middle of the inning, freshman right-handed pitcher Luke D’Ancona threw a wild pitch that put runners on first and second, but sophomore catcher Cesar Gonzalez managed to get the ball to D’Ancona, getting junior second baseman Chris Walsh out at the plate. Senior shortstop Carmelo Musacchia struck out swinging to erase the Huskies’ opportunity.
After a scoreless fourth inning, BC took back the lead in the top of the fifth with a walk and single to lead it off. After a foul bunt was caught to put one away, BC’s graduate student left fielder and first baseman Nick Wang knocked a single through the left side of the infield to score a run, putting the Eagles up 2-1.
Neither team earned a run until the ninth. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Andrew Rogovic came in to replace graduate student right-handed pitcher Matthew Sapienza but struggled with his control. After a walk, a sacrifice bunt put BC’s senior pinch runner and designated hitter Owen DeShazo on second with one out. DeShazo advanced to third on a wild pitch before another walk put runners at the corners. A sacrifice bunt down to first was enough to score DeShazo and increase the Eagles’ lead to 3-2.
It all came down to the bottom of the ninth as the Huskies fought to stay alive. After a slew of defensive changes for BC, a strikeout for sophomore catcher Cooper Tarantino put Northeastern in the hole early. After a walk for Aschettino, sophomore right fielder Carter Bentley hit a sacrifice bunt to advance him to second. With two outs and the Huskies down to their final strike, Ruggiero was hit by a pitch to keep the inning going, putting the runners on first and second. Walsh stepped up to the plate and knocked a single through the left side of the infield on an 0-2 count to keep things going and bring Aschettino home. Unfortunately, a five-pitch at-bat sent junior center fielder Ryan Gerety down swinging, ending the game in a 3-2 Eagles victory.
The Huskies bounced back the next day in Lowell, scoring their first run in the top of the second inning.
Senior designated hitter Matt Brinker walked before he advanced to third on Ruggerio’s single down the left field line. Walsh secured the RBI, hitting a sacrifice fly to right field for a 1-0 scoreboard. This was Brinker’s 13th run of the season so far.
Northeastern continued its scoring in the fifth. Gerety doubled before advancing to third on a Feinberg single. Feinberg then stole second base before Brinker hit a sacrifice flyball, bringing Gerety back to home plate and Feinberg to third off an error by UMass’s senior center fielder Carlos Martinez. Feinberg added another run to the scoreboard on Ruggerio’s single.
The gap in score widened in the seventh off a solo Feinberg home run for a 4-0 scoreboard. This was Feinberg’s fourth home run of the season, a sign of his reliability at the plate.
In the final inning, Northeastern found home plate once again, despite Lowell’s pitching change. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Nolan Geisler replaced fellow sophomore righty Jake LeFrancois.
Musacchia was the first Husky up to bat in the ninth and hit a single. Gerety also knocked a single but advanced to second on the throw. Musacchia found his way to third on an error by graduate student left fielder Nicholas Solorzano. Brinker grounded out to the shortstop, but Musacchia was able to run home for a 5-0 scoreboard. An error by junior second baseman Rowan Masse brought Gerety home on Ruggerio’s single.
Northeastern’s defense shut down Lowell, restricting the River Hawks to no runs.
Redshirt senior right-handed pitcher Ryan McCarroll started the game for the Huskies, where he pitched one inning, striking out one of the three batters he faced. Redshirt sophomore left-handed pitcher David McSweeney took the mound for the next four innings, where he allowed two hits and struck out two batters. Redshirt sophomore Jack Cropper pitched two innings, striking out three players and not allowing a single hit from the seven River Hawks he faced. Freshmen left-handed pitcher Scott Longo and righty Tom Mahoney pitched one inning each. Longo gave up two hits in five batters faced, while Mahoney struck out one River Hawk without giving up a hit.
Northeastern will travel to New York to face the Hofstra University Pride (6-13, 2-4 CAA) for a conference series March 27 to 29. Last season, the Huskies swept the Pride 6-1, 9-0 and 4-0.
