Box Score (PDF)

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The UMass Lowell softball team wrapped up the Michele Smith Spring Break Tournament with an 8-1 loss against Northern Illinois on Sunday morning in Clearwater.
 
"I thought we played tough and had great energy all weekend," said Head Coach Danielle Henderson. "There were a lot of teachable moments that we can take with us and improve on for our conference games."
 
Senior Ally Greene (Tewksbury, Mass.) and junior Emilia Davies (Parker, Colo.) logged hits for the River Hawks in the outing, while Greene accounted for the team's lone run. Junior Marielle Handley (Durham, Conn.) took the loss in the circle with four innings of work. Sophomore Erica Armenti (Shrewsbury, Mass.) was called in to finish the game, allowing just one run.
 
UMass Lowell got on the board in the top of the first when Greene got things started with a bunt single. She advanced on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Tori Alcorn (Lowell, Mass.) before scoring unearned on an error by the opposing shortstop, making the score 1-0.
 
NIU was quick to retaliate with two runs in the home half of the inning thanks to a RBI triple and a RBI single down the right field line. Both sides were quickly retired in the second, but Northern Illinois extended its margin to 5-1 on three hits in the third.
 
Although Davies led off with a two-bagger in the fourth, the opportunity was extinguished when she was caught stealing third. NIU carried the momentum into its next at-bat to plate a pair of runs and pull away, 7-1. The home team would add the final run of the contest in the bottom of the fifth before holding UMass Lowell to two runners left on base in their last chances at the dish to seal the 8-1 outcome.
 
The River Hawks will remain in Florida until Tuesday, when they visit Florida International University for a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m.