March 18, 2011

Box Score

The River Hawks closed out their trip to Florida with a pair of victories, extending their winning streak to four straight. With an 11-7 record leaving the Sunshine State, this marks the first time since 2003 that the squad returned from their spring trip with a winning record. The squad downed Nyack 11-2 in the early game before defeating NYIT 8-6 later in the day.

Junior pitcher Elyssa Boris (Gardner, Mass.) picked up both wins on the day, while the River Hawks committed just one error over the two-game stretch compared to 10 by their opponents.

In the early game, UMass Lowell picked up a run in the first and built their lead to four 4-0 by the second inning. Their fate was sealed when they followed up with four runs in the fifth and three in the sixth. The game was decided in just six innings.

Katie Mazure (Burlington, Mass.) led the River Hawk offense in the fifth by starting with a hard-hit grounder to short and advancing to second on an error. She was brought home on a single by junior Caelyn Ford (Dracut, Mass.). The inning continued as sophomore Brianna Mahoney (Billerica, Mass.) scored Ford on a single, and advancing on a sacrifice bunt by senior Sammy Macy (Tewksbury, Mass.). Mahoney was scored by senior Hilary Hopkins (San Diego, Calif.) before the inning ended.

Mazure, Hopkins and Macy all finished the game with a pair of RBI. The squad finished the game

In the second game of the day and final of the trip, the River Hawks again built a 4-0 lead over NYIT by the third inning. NYIT began to rally back and by the top of the fourth it was 4-2. UMass Lowell retaliated with another three-run inning in the fourth, cushioning its lead enough to stave off a NYIT rally in the sixth and seventh. The River Hawks held on for the 8-6 victory, converting nine hits into eight runs. NYIT was only able to muster six runs on 12 hits.

Boris picked up the win before being relieved by senior Rachel Schafler (Floral Park, N.Y.) in the fifth.

Mazure went 3-3 in the game, collecting another two RBI, while senior Heather Ross (Waltham, Mass.) went 1-3 from the plate and also picked up a pair of RBI.

The River Hawks capitalized on back-to-back triples with two outs in the third as Mazure began with a triple to right center. She was brought home on a triple to left center by Ford as part of the three-run inning.

UMass Lowell turned a pair of double plays on the day.

The River Hawks head to Waterbury, Conn. for a doubleheader against Post University on March 22, beginning at 3 p.m.

More information, including box score and full stats, will be posted when it becomes available...