Following a 9-1 defeat in the first game, the UMass Lowell softball team couldn't salvage the nightcap, surrendering 4-3 to UAlbany at Albany Field on Saturday.
 
The River Hawks held a 3-2 edge after the fourth inning in the backend of the doubleheader, but couldn't hold on. The teams record slides to 9-33 overall and 1-12 in the America East Conference.
 
"As a coach you love to win, but you can take away some positive from it," said Head Coach Sean Cotter. "Its hard for the kids because they 're giving everything they have."
 
The Great Danes (24-10, 10-3 America East) continued their recent surge and have now won 12 of their last 14, including seven straight against AE foes. River Hawks dropped the opener 9-1 by mercy rule in the sixth inning as the Great Danes.
 
Four of the River Hawks conference losses have come by two runs or less.
 
"We're just so close in some of these games, but we just can't seem to get over the top," said Cotter.
 
Sophomore Marielle Handley (Durham, Conn.) took the loss in game one, giving up seven runs on 11 hits. Junior Ariana Darcy (Kingston, N.Y.) scored the team's lone run, crushing her fourth homerun of the year, a solo shot to center in the fourth.
 
"Marielle pitched real well, they just put some good swings on the ball and it just felt like we weren't going to have enough against them," said Cotter.
 
In game two, the River Hawks got to UAlbany pitcher Emily Ostrom in the fourth, hitting her around for three runs on four hits. Senior Ali Ferraro (Kingston, N.Y.) knotted the game at two with a one out double that scored Kathryn Donovan (Hudson, N.H.) and Alyssa Zinkiewicz (Massapequa, N.Y.). Alisha Welch (Langley, British Columbia) pushed Ferraro in a batter later with a two out go-ahead single.
 
Albany struck back with two of their own in the home half to take the lead they wouldn't relinquish.
 
The clubs will meet in the series finale tomorrow at noon.