Box Score

Sophomore DH Abby Jamieson (Billerica, Mass.) hit a solo home run in the sixth inning to lift UMass Lowell over Southern New Hampshire, 1-0, Friday night in a Northeast-10 Conference softball clash at Penmen Field.

With the win, UMass Lowell improved to 26-18-1 overall and 14-3-1 in the NE-10 Northeast Division entering Saturday's twin bill against the Penmen in Manchester (5:00, 7:00).

The victory also lifts UMass Lowell closer to the NE-10 Northeast Division regular season title. Should the River Hawks win one of two games on Saturday, it will win the Northeast Division title outright and host the NE-10 Tournament next week.

After a 3-13 start, the River Hawks are 23-5-1 in their last 29 games.

Southern New Hampshire slipped to 27-13 overall and 14-4 in the NE-10 Northeast Division (second place).

Both teams were limited to just three hits. Freshman P Marielle Handley (Durham, Conn.) improved to 20-12 as she surrendered no walks while striking out three. Sophomore Ali Maloof took the hard-luck loss as she gave up five walks and struck out 11.

Southern New Hampshire threatened in the second inning with runners on second and third with two out, but senior Nicole Newell popped to first to end the inning. In the third, sophomore LF Ally Greene (Tewksbury, Mass.) walked, stole second and reached third on a wild pitch with two out, but Maloof struck out Jamieson to end the inning.

The Penmen threatened once again in the fifth when Newell doubled and junior pinch runner Natalie Metta advanced to third on an error, but Maloof flied out to centerfield to cap the inning.

Handley retired the next nine batters for the River Hawks.