LOWELL, Mass. – The LIU Brooklyn baseball team dropped a 5-1 decision at UMass Lowell Thursday night at LeLacheur Park, to fall to 16-33 on the season.

The River Hawks got on the board early, taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first frame. A single, followed by a double put two runners on, and an error scored a run. Another error with one out continued the inning, and a balk brought another run in.

Freshman Cory Hart settled in after the first inning, with two strikeouts in the second, holding UMass Lowell hitless until the fourth. The River Hawks had a lead-off double, but Hart notched another strikeout and the defense got two more outs to end the threat. Hart also retired three straight batters in the fifth, before sophomore Evan Flood came in to relieve him in the bottom of the sixth. A two RBI single in that inning added to UML's total, before an error added a fifth run, putting the home team up, 5-0.

LIU would add a run in the top of the ninth. Junior Brian Lamboy led off getting hit by a pitch, and stole second. With two outs, sophomore Mark Hernandez singled to advance him to third, and stole second base. Lamboy would sneak home on a wild pitch, putting the Blackbirds on the board, 5-1. But it was all that LIU would manage, and UMass Lowell took the win.

Freshman Nick Kuzia (2-2) had the win on the mound, as he held LIU scoreless for 6.0 innings, giving up just two hits while striking out five. Sophomore Steve Xirinachs earned the save, striking out four in 3.0 innings, giving up just one hit and one run. Freshman Cory Hart (0-4) had the loss in 5.1 innings, with four strikeouts. Junior Vincent Tranchina held the River Hawks scoreless for 1.2 innings with two strikeouts, while sophomore Nick Freijomil pitched a near-perfect final inning, with no hits and no runs.

Tommy Jakubowski, Mark Hernandez and John Knauth all had hits in the loss for the Blackbirds.

The two teams wrap up the series with a doubleheader, Friday, May 15 at 1 p.m.