March 15, 2011
Box Score Game 1 | Box Score Game 2
Senior Heather Ross (Waltham, Mass.) needed just one hit against No. 21 Flagler to reach her 100th career hit in a River Hawk uniform. Not only did she record two on the day, she also hit the game-winning grand slam in a 4-3 decision over the Saints on Tuesday evening in St. Augustine, Fla.
UMass Lowell fell 9-2 in the early game before picking up a 4-3 win against nationally-ranked Flagler College, marking the midway point of their 12-game trip to Florida. The River Hawks improve to 7-5 on the year, while Flagler currently stands at 25-7.
"It was a really good comeback win and the second time in two days against a top 30 opponent," said Head Coach Sean Cotter. "Heather Ross getting her 100th hit with a double in game one and the game-winning grand slam in game two just really locked in a super start for her senior season. She's really carrying us offensively right now."
The first tilt of the day saw the powerful Flagler offense take over by the third frame. Despite the River Hawks building a 2-0 lead by the top of the third, the Saints retaliated by tying the game at two apiece in the bottom of the inning and then charging forward with a four-run fourth and three more insurance runs over the fifth and sixth innings.
UMass Lowell tallied three hits in the contest while Flagler converted 12 hits to nine runs. Both teams committed two errors.
Ross collected her first hit of the day, and 100th of her career, in the early game, a double to center in the third that brought home freshman Melissa Effertz (Oceanside, Calif.). The only other RBI of the game came from centerfielder Ashley Daniels (Medford, Mass.), who converted in the second and went 1-3 in the game.
Senior Sammy Macy (Tewksbury, Mass.) picked up the loss, her first of the year, pitching 1.0 inning and allowing four hits and six runs. She split the duties with classmate Rachel Schafler (Floral Park, N.Y.), who threw 5.0 innings and allowed three runs on eight hits. She struck out three.
The second game of the evening was a much different affair with Flagler picking up the early 1-0 lead in the first and the River Hawks exploding with a four-run fifth inning on a grand slam by Ross. Flagler answered with another run in the bottom of the inning, but their efforts in the bottom of the seventh were foiled as they stranded the game-tying run while the River Hawks closed out the game.
In the fifth, Daniels reached on a single up the middle before advancing after Meagan Guy (Berlin, Conn.) was hit by a pitch. Sophomore Krista MacKenzie (Ipswich, Mass.) singled to advance both runners. Ross stepped up to the plate, homering to right to score all four before the inning came to a close.
Elyssa Boris (Gardner, Mass.) pitched for the River Hawks, picking up her sixth win of the year. She threw the complete game, allowing three runs on 10 hits and striking out a pair. Flagler stranded 11 in the game.
"Boris threw well and the first six innings were as good as she's thrown in my time here," said Cotter. "Even with a little hiccup in the seventh, the whole `bend but don't break' mentality was definitely in effect."
The River Hawks made the most of their six hits, collecting four runs, while Flagler notched 10 hits but was only able to convert that into three runs in the game.
The River Hawks return to action tomorrow afternoon when they visit Florida Tech in Melbourne, Fla. for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
