Subdued by strong pitching, the UMass Lowell softball team struggled to get runs across the plate and were setback Thursday afternoon by Central Connecticut State.
 
The River Hawks narrowly lost the opener 1-0 before succumbing 8-0 in five innings to the Blue Devils at Softball Field.
 
"You just have to tip your cap to Central Connecticut," said Head Coach Sean Cotter. "The first game was a classic pitchers duel, but they just swung the bats well in game two."
 
The River Hawks drop to 7-20 overall, including a 0-2 mark in the America East Conference, while the Blue Devils improve to 18-11, and 4-2 in the Northeast Conference.
 
Hits were at a premium in the opener as UMass Lowell sophomore pitcher Marielle Handley (Durham, Ct.) gave up just one run on four hits over six innings while striking out one. Handley settled down after giving up a first inning home run to CCSU's Kat Malcolm, retiring the side in three of the last five innings.

Blue Devils righty Laura Messina got the better of the River Hawk batters, striking out 15 while allowing four hits in a complete game effort.
 
The River Hawks squandered an opportunity to tie the game in the top of the seventh. Freshman Emily O'Brien (Salem, N.H.) led off the inning with a double to right field before Courtney Lanfranchi (Burlington, Mass.) entered as a pinch runner.  Ali Ferraro (Kingston, N.Y.) put down a sacrifice bunt to advance Lanfranchi to third, but that was as close at the River Hawks would get with Messina getting the final two batters to strikeout.
 
"[Handley] got better as the game went on, and that's a really good sign that we're getting some more toughness there," said Cotter. "She certainly gave us an opportunity to win the game."
 
The Blue Devils scored in each inning of the nightcap, on their way to sweeping the days games. Freshman Lauren Ramirez (Dracut, Mass.) pitched three innings giving up six earned runs on eight hits before being replaced by Erica Armenti (Shrewsbury, Mass.).
 
"Lauren did some really good things, they just hit her and that's the way it goes sometimes," said Cotter.
 
After hurling a shutout against Holy Cross on Sunday Handley has allowed just one run in her last 13 innings.
 
The teams will faceoff once again for another two game set on April 23rd at River View Field in Lowell.
 
Next for UMass Lowell is last years America East Conference tournament champion Stony Brook. The River Hawks and Seawolves will clash in a three game series with two on Saturday (1 & 3 p.m.) and an 11 a.m. game Sunday.