Zac Roy (Lowell, MA) didn't enter the game until the 11th inning, but he made the most of his opportunity with a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 14th inning to defeat Concordia (22-20), 4-3. With the win, UMass Lowell baseball (22-18) improves to 5-1 in 2010 when playing bonus baseball.
As the two teams battled into extra frames, Concordia appeared to gain an edge in the top of the 13th inning. After nabbing a single and a walk to start the inning, Donnie Roth (Congers, NY) delivered a one-out base hit into right field to push the score to 3-2 in the Clippers' favor.
The River Hawks refused to quit as they drove across a run of their own in the bottom of the 13th. Wallace caught the defense sleeping with a perfectly placed bunt single to lead off the inning. Burns laid down a sacrifice bunt in the next at bat and the speedy Wallace rounded second and slid head-first into third base, just beating the throw. With one out, Kneeland came through with a line drive single into left-center to bring home Wallace and tie the game at 3-3.
UMass Lowell finally put the game to rest as the former Lowell High School standout, Roy, hit a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 14th inning. Mark Sanborn led off with a double to left field and then advanced to third on a passed ball. With the both the infield and outfield in, Roy delivered a looping single that passed just inches over the leaping shortstop's glove to send the crowd into a frenzy as the River Hawks celebrated their 4-3 victory.
With today's win in its pocket, UMass Lowell will prepare for two games with Pace University on Saturday afternoon at LeLacheur Park. First pitch of the double-header is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
This summer Roy will begin his first season with the Chelmsford Merchants.