Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

LOWELL, Mass. – Following a convincing 4-1 victory in game one, the UMass Lowell softball team split Friday's doubleheader against Hartford, falling 7-5 in the late game at River View Field.
 
The River Hawks stand at 12-36 overall, including a 2-14 mark in the America East Conference, while the Hawks climb to 8-29 overall and 2-15 in conference play.
 
"We did a lot of things right, played pretty flawless defense and Marielle pitched a gem, got some timely hitting and were obviously able to win the game," said Head Coach Sean Cotter. "I thought we did the little things really well."
 
After surrendering a leadoff homerun, sophomore Marielle Handley (Durham, Conn.) shut down the Hawks, tossing a three strikeout complete game for her seventh win of the year. Handley was aided by a solo homerun by Abby Jamieson (Billerica, Mass.) in the fourth before Emily O'Brien (Salem, N.H.) cleared the bases with a three-run double in the fifth.
 
"[Marielle's] had some good outings as of late, she did really well against BU and obviously both games against Holy Cross," said Cotter. "She was dominant for us."
 
Hartford ended losing streaks of 11 overall and 15 America East games, bouncing back in the day's second game despite some late drama. The Hawks took a 6-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth before River Hawks sophomore Brianna Martin (Methuen, Mass.) sparked a late charge. Returning from an eight game absence due to injuries, Martin made an immediate impact atop the River Hawks lineup, hitting a two-run triple in the sixth to cut the deficit in half.
 
The Hawks responded by adding an insurance run in the seventh, but left the door open for the River Hawks to mount a comeback, erring twice on one play that brought two runs in and left a runner at second base. Catcher Sawyer Fried made up for one of those errors on the previous play, picking off Ally Greene (Tewksbury, Mass.) two batters before the Hawks closed the game out.
 
After picking up a hit in her return, Martin finished the nightcap two-for-four with two RBI.
 
The teams will play their season finale tomorrow at noon where the River Hawks will honor Ali Ferraro (Kingston, Mass.), the teams lone senior.