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MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – The UMass Lowell softball team dropped a pair of decisions at the Charleston Challenge on Saturday. The squad first faced a 3-0 setback against Marshall University (4-0) of Conference USA before falling, 6-0, to UNC Greensboro (2-1) of the Southern Conference.
 
"We played well in our first game against Marshall," said Head Coach Danielle Henderson. "Their relief pitcher threw really well and we just had a hard time making adjustments. We could have played better in the second game against UNCG. We didn't make mistakes, but we just weren't as sharp as we have been."
 
Junior Brianna Martin (Methuen, Mass.) led UMass Lowell with two hits on the day (2-5, .400). Junior Alyssa Zinkiewicz (Massapequa, N.Y.) and sophomore Emily O'Brien (Salem, N.H.) added to the offense with one hit apiece, while six different River Hawks earned one walk each, as well. Sophomore Erica Armenti (Shrewsbury, Mass.) went the distance in the circle in game one with three strikeouts. Junior Marielle Handley (Durham, Conn.) and senior Courtney Lanfranchi (Burlington, Mass.) split game two, combining for three strikeouts.
 
In the Marshall game, neither side was able to make any noise in the first inning, although sophomore Tori Alcorn (Lowell, Mass.) reached on a walk. The Herd broke the game open in the top of the second, keeping the inning alive with a pair of two-out walks before a RBI single through the left side made the score, 1-0. The River Hawks threatened in the home half of the inning when Zinkiewicz, sophomore Alisha Welch (Langley, British Columbia) and classmate Mikalya Powlowsky (Hudson, N.H.) drew three straight walks to load the bases, but all three were stranded.
 
UMass Lowell was retired in order in its next three trips to the plate. The Herd would extend its margin in the top of the sixth, as the visitors recorded three consecutive base hits to start the inning and followed with two RBI groundouts to take a 3-0 advantage.
 
Martin connected for the River Hawks lone hit of the contest in the bottom of the sixth, but Marshall was able to secure 3-0 decision.
 
In the nightcap against UNC Greensboro, the Spartans jumped out to a 1-0 lead with one hit and an unearned run in the second. Martin walked for UMass Lowell in the third before stealing second, but UNCG added to its buffer in the bottom of the inning on a two-RBI double to right center and a sacrifice fly, making the score 4-0.
 
Lanfranchi made her season debut in the circle, coming on in relief in the home half of the fourth and forcing two line outs and a strikeout. However, the Spartans plated two more runs in the fifth to pull away, 6-0.
 
Similarly to the earlier game, Martin tallied the squad's first hit against UNCG in the sixth inning. Zinkiewicz led off with one of her own in the seventh and a single to right field by O'Brien put runners on first and second, but the River Hawks were unable to plate a run, sealing the 6-0 outcome.
 
UMass Lowell will play its final game at the Charleston Challenge tomorrow, Sunday, February 8, at 11 a.m. against Army.