Lowell Keeps Up the Pace

By By Andrew Cuneo, Globe Staff, 5/30/2002 Used with permission from the Boston Globe Online

Catcher Matt Tupman hit a three-run homer as UMass-Lowell outslugged Ashland (Ohio), 10-5, to stay alive in the NCAA Division 2 baseball tournament last night at Montgomery, Ala.

Tupman homered in the first inning - one of his three hits - to get the River Hawks (35-17) rolling as UMass-Lowell scored in six innings.

UMass-Lowell starter Patrick Shirley gave up three runs in the first, but settled down and pitched into the ninth before getting relieved by Dave Ouellette.

UMass-Lowell plays undefeated Chico State tonight at 7:30. The top-ranked Wildcats defeated UMass-Lowell, 5-2, in the opening round of the double-elimination tourney Saturday.