BRYANT BASEBALL ENDS SEASON WITH 1-0 LOSS TO UMASS LOWELL IN NE-10 TOURNAMENT

LOWELL, Mass. -  UMass Lowell scored an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth inning as the River Hawks downed the Bryant University baseball team 1-0 in first round action of the 2006 Northeast-10 Conference tournament on a wet and cold afternoon at La Lachaur Park.  The River Hawks will face the top seed of the tournament, Franklin Pierce, on Friday afternoon, while Bryant sees its 2006 season come to an end at 18-33 overall.  

The loss spoiled a strong start by Bryant pitcher Eric Loh.  The sophomore righty, facing Lowell for the first time this season, pitched seven strong innings in holding the River Hawks scoreless.  He allowed just four hits in the game before giving way to Adam Voulo in the eighth.

Loh pitched out of trouble early as Lowell loaded the bases in the bottom of the third, but the Bulldog pitcher was able to get Steve Paddock to pop up to second to get out the inning without any harm. 

Bryant had a chance to take a lead on the River Hawks in the bottom of the fourth.  Mark Dondero led off the inning by drawing a walk and reached second after an error by Lowell shortstop Sean Patno.

Dondero would move up to third following a wild pitch, leaving runners on the corner, but Chad Valenti grounded into an inning-ending double play as Patno made amends for the earlier by making a strong turn at second and firing in time to get Valenti at first. 

In the top of the ninth, Chris Brown led off the inning for the Bulldogs with a single to left and moved to second when Pat McKenna hit a slow roller in front of UML catcher Bob Theriault whose only play was to first to get McKenna as Brown moved into scoring position. 

Pat Donovan, replacing UML starter Joe Malzone, proceed to retire the next two Bryant batters to keep the game scoreless.

In the bottom of the ninth, Theriault led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice.  After a walk to Brenden Fullerton, Matt Iorio hit what appeared to be an inning ending double play ball to second.  Bryant's Jason Alexander fielded it cleanly, but the throw to first from Pat McKenna was low and in the dirt as first baseman Mike Rocco was unable to get a glove on it, allowing Theriault to come home with the game-winner. 

Brown had two hits in the game for the Bulldogs.