FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Senior Ryan Plourde picked up three hits as the Fairfield University baseball team fell to UMass Lowell, 4-2, this afternoon in non-league action at Alumni Diamond. Plourde went 3-for-3 with a double, a walk, and a run scored.

The River Hawks (10-10) got on the board in the top of the first inning, pushing two runs across the plate. The Stags (12-13) answered in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs, Plourde doubled to right center and then scored on a single by Jake Salpietro.

UMass Lowell extended its lead to 3-1 in the top of the third inning on an RBI single by Danny Mendick. Fairfield got the run back in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, sophomore Brendan Tracy hit a ball sharply down the right field line and legged out a stand-up triple, the second of his career. Tracy then trotted home on a sacrifice fly by freshman Troy Scocca to make it 3-2.

Fairfield threatened in the eighth inning. With two outs, senior Rob LoPinto doubled to left centerfield while Plourde worked the count and drew a walk. River Hawks reliever Nick Boutoures entered the game and was able to get the final out of the inning to end the Stags' rally.

The River Hawks added an insurance run in the top of the ninth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Jimmy Ricoy was grazed by a pitch to force in the run. Fairfield was able to get out of the inning. Boutoures retired the Stags in the bottom of the ninth for his second save of the season.

Garrett Cole (2-1) picked up the win for the River Hawks. Sophomore Joe Randall took the loss, allowing three runs, one earned, on seven hits in 4.0 innings. Junior Anthony DiMauro tossed two scoreless innings of relief while junior Andrew Gallagher threw a scoreless seventh, striking out two of the four batters he faced. Senior Christian Fox threw the final two innings.

Fairfield returns to action on April 9 with a doubleheader at Yale University beginning at 3:30pm.