LOWELL, MA (Apr. 10, 2008) – Senior Laurie Tanguay (Lowell, MA) set the school record for home runs in a career with her 18th in last Saturday’s 10-0 victory at Saint Michael’s and finds herself in the midst of an inter-team home run race on the UMass Lowell softball team.

Tanguay, who entered the season with 15, tied the previous mark of 17 achieved by former standout Donna Mills (1993-96), with a three-run shot in Saturday’s 12-0 win over Dowling College at the Georgian Court University Tournament.

The milestone home run came Tuesday in UML’s 10-0 victory at Saint Michael’s, a two-run shot.

“I’m not surprised Laurie (broke the record),” said UML head coach Harry Sauter, currently in his 14th season. “Last year she had some shoulder problems and was playing at about 60 percent the second half of the year. And she missed 17 games as a sophomore.

“I wonder how much further along she would be if she was 100 percent those years,” Sauter added. “She’s a strong power hitter and she has certainly shown it. I’m pleased as punch that she set the record.”

UML is currently 12-10 overall and 7-3 in the Northeast-10 Conference entering Saturday’s non-conference twin bill against Adelphi (3:00) and Sunday’s home doubleheader against Stonehill (1:00).

With three home runs this season, Tanguay finds herself in the midst of a home run race with teammates Jachael Guanci (Everett, MA), a senior 1B, and junior CF Stacey Lajoie (Gardner, MA), who each have four this season and 15 all-time.

The school record for home runs in a season is nine, set by Lajoie in 2006. Guanci, who had two home runs in Wednesday’s 12-2, 10-4 victories over Saint Anselm, came close last season with eight.

“I believe Stacey could break it next year, if not this year, and I know Jachael is very close also,” Sauter noted.