SAN FRANCISCO (Interstat) -- The Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks erupted for an eight-run first inning and never looked back, pounding the San Francisco Dons 18-7 in a non-conference baseball game Saturday evening at Dante Benedetti Diamond at Max Ulrich Field.

The offensive explosion, which saw 11 River Hawks come to the plate, set the tone for a lopsided affair and helped Massachusetts-Lowell (2-6) snap a five-game losing streak. San Francisco fell to 7-6.

The most important part of the game was its shocking outset. The River Hawks, who had managed just five runs in a loss to the same Dons team a day earlier, sent a resounding message in the top of the first. After a walk and an error loaded the bases, Carlos Marti drew a walk to force in the first run. Rowan Masse then delivered the key blow, a two-run single to shortstop. Nicholas Solorzano and AC Scot followed with RBI hits, and the inning only ended when Ryan Strand grounded into a double play. By the time San Francisco recorded its third out, Massachusetts-Lowell had an 8-0 lead, having chased Dons starter Lockhart after just two-thirds of an inning.

Masse, the game’s top star, led the River Hawks’ 22-hit attack, going 4 for 5 with four RBIs and four runs scored. Solorzano also drove in four runs on a 4-for-6 afternoon, while Strand contributed four RBIs, including a two-run double in a five-run eighth inning that put the game fully out of reach. Sean O’Leary added a solo home run in the fifth inning as part of a three-hit performance.

The early cushion was more than enough for River Hawks starter Brian Foley, who earned the win despite a turbulent fifth inning. Foley cruised through the first four frames, allowing no hits and striking out eight. He ran into trouble in the fifth, however, surrendering four runs on five hits and two walks before being relieved with two outs. He finished with a line of 4 2/3 innings pitched, allowing four earned runs on five hits with eight strikeouts and three walks.

San Francisco showed brief signs of life in that fifth, scoring four times, highlighted by Jackson Nystrom’s RBI hit-by-pitch. Nystrom, who entered as a pinch hitter, later launched a two-run homer in the seventh inning to finish with three RBIs. The Dons collected 15 hits but stranded 10 baserunners and grounded into two double plays.

Cal Amborn provided the only stable pitching for San Francisco, relieving the opener and throwing three innings of one-run ball. The Dons used seven pitchers in total, with Gino Rossi recording no outs before being pulled in the ninth inning.

The result defied pregame projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 4-2 San Francisco victory and whose ELO system gave the Dons a 65.6% probability to win.

The two teams will complete their three-game series on Sunday afternoon.

Game Notes: Massachusetts-Lowell improved to 2-6, while San Francisco fell to 7-6. The River Hawks’ 18 runs and 22 hits were both season highs. The teams combined to use 13 pitchers. Massachusetts-Lowell’s next game is Sunday in the series finale at San Francisco, while the Dons host the River Hawks again on Monday before a road trip to UC Riverside.