Feb. 25, 2011
Box Score
Nova Southeastern Box Score | Eckerd Box Score
The UMass Lowell softball team opened its season with a 9-2 loss to Nova Southeastern at noon before defeating the Eckerd Tritons, 6-1, in the first day of the Triton Spring Invitational hosted by Eckerd College in Clearwater, Fla.
Junior shortstop Meagan Guy (Berlin, Conn.) went 3-4 on the afternoon with two walks and an RBI, while classmate Elyssa Boris (Gardner, Mass.) hit a homer against Eckerd to tally three RBIs on the day.
Against Nova (7-4), the River Hawks (1-1) got on the board first with one run in the first, as sophomore Krista MacKenzie (Ipswich, Mass.) led off with a single up the middle before stealing second. Senior Heather Ross (Waltham, Mass.) followed with a double down the left field line to bring MacKenzie home and put UMass Lowell up 1-0 early on. MacKenzie's successful steal was the River Hawks' lone attempt of the game.
The Sharks came up with two runs in the bottom of the first before spreading their lead to make it 5-1 with a three-run third.
The River Hawks retaliated in the fourth with a Hilary Hopkins (Poway, Calif.) RBI, as she scored pinch runner Kristie Kyzer (Boxborough, Mass.), in for Boris who started the inning with a double to left center.
The Sharks answered with another two insurance runs in the bottom of the inning and UMass Lowell was unable to rally to come from behind the rest of the game.
Boris started the game and picked up the loss, pitching three innings, allowing three hits and five runs, facing 15 batters. She was relieved by Rachel Schafler (Floral Park, N.Y.), who threw three innings, allowed six hits and four runs. She struck out one and faced 14 batters.
In the second game of the afternoon, all UMass Lowell needed was an explosive, six-run first inning to defeat Eckerd (3-8).
An early homer by Boris brought in three runs, as the pitcher went 2-3 in the game. Catcher Katie Mazure (Burlington, Mass.) also went 2-3, while shortstop Guy was a perfect 3-3 batting eighth.
The Tritons responded with a run at the top of the second, but were unable to generate anymore runs in the game.
Boris picked up her first win of the year, pitching 6.1 innings, letting up five hits and just one run. She struck out four batters and walked the same. Schafler relieved Boris, retiring the only two batters she faced to close the game.
UMass Lowell is back at it tomorrow when they take on Palm Beach Atlantic at 11 a.m. followed by Saint Leo at 1:30 p.m. in the second day of the Triton Spring Invitational.
