March 16, 2009

Box Score

Southwest Minnesota State erupted for six runs in the first inning and never looked back in an 8-1 victory over UMass Lowell Monday morning in the Rebel Spring Softball Games in Kissimmee, FL.

The loss was the third straight for the River Hawks, who opened the season Sunday with losses to Adelphi (9-2) and No. 19 Central Missouri (5-0). Southwest Minnesota improved to 7-8.

The Mustangs first inning rally was spurred by a three-run home run by senior 1B Amanda Tucci and an RBI single by freshman CF Christine Borowiak.

The River Hawks pulled a run back in the bottom half of the inning when freshman 2B Meagan Guy (Berlin, CT) singled, stole second and reached home on consecutive throwing errors.

Senior P Amanda Johnson earned the win as she allowed four hits, an unearned run and no walks while striking out nine.

Sophomore Nicole Monroe (Townsend, MA) took the loss to slip to 0-1 as she was replaced in the first inning by freshman P Marissa Fiorentino (Tewksbury, MA). Fiorentino surrendered seven hits, three runs (two earned) and five walks while striking out three in six innings.

Senior Stacey Lajoie (Gardner, MA), junior Katie Hebert (Lowell, MA) and freshman Paula Ruszkowski (Reading, MA) also had hits for UMass Lowell.

The River Hawks meet Caldwell at Monday 1:00, as well as Minnesota-Duluth (1:00) and Minnesota State-Moorhead (3:00) on Tuesday.