Tuesday, April 14 at Binghamton (DH, 12 p.m.)
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Wednesday, April 15 vs. Rhode Island (DH, 2 p.m.)
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Saturday, April 18 at Hartford (DH, 12 p.m.)
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Sunday, April 19 at Hartford (12 p.m.)
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LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell softball team will play a pair of America East Conference opponents, in addition to hosting a non-conference doubleheader this week.
 
The River Hawks travel to Binghamton on Tuesday, April 14, to make up a doubleheader that was originally slated for earlier this season. Those contests are set to begin at 12 p.m. at the Bearcats Sports Complex. UMass Lowell will then have a quick turnaround, as the team welcomes the University of Rhode Island to River View Field for a pair of games on Wednesday, April 15 starting at 2 p.m. The River Hawks will wrap up the week in Hartford for a three-game league series on Saturday-Sunday, April 18-19.
 
RIVER HAWK RECAP
UMass Lowell owns a 10-21 overall record so far in 2015, including a 0-6 mark in America East play. The team is in the midst of an eight-game skid after going 0-4 last week. The River Hawks made a valiant comeback effort against visiting Boston University on April 7 before eventually falling, 7-6. The squad was then swept in a three-game series against Maine with 7-0, 5-4 (8) and 6-3 decisions.
 
LEADING THE FLOCK
Through 31 games, sophomore Alisha Welch (Langley, British Columbia) is first on the squad with a .298 batting average and 25 hits. Senior Ariana Darcy (Kingston, N.Y.) adds to the offensive effort with a team-best 18 runs scored and is one of three River Hawks with a team-high six doubles. In addition, freshman Vanessa Cooper (Pleasant Gap, Pa.) paces the squad with 19 RBI, three home runs and a .453 slugging percentage. In the circle, junior Marielle Handley (Durham, Conn.) owns a 4-9 record with 54 strikeouts. Sophomore Erica Armenti (Shrewsbury, Mass.) boasts a team-best 3.93 ERA.
 
SCOUTING BINGHAMTON
The Bearcats (12-13, 3-2) lost their most recent two games at the hands of Bucknell, but have won three straight America East games against Stony Brook and Hartford. Lisa Cadogan leads the team with a .403 average, six home runs, eight doubles and 27 RBI. Sydney Harbaugh has scored a team-high 29 runs and has drove in 21. In the circle, Cara Martin is 5-4 with a 3.92 ERA and two complete games. Sarah Miller has recorded 38 strikeouts in 66 innings.
 
SCOUTING RHODE ISLAND
The Rams are currently riding a 15-game losing streak and sit at 1-27 overall. URI takes on Massachusetts for an A-10 doubleheader on April 14 before traveling to Lowell. Megan Congro leads the team with a .323 average and 20 hits. Kylie Shivery has a team-high 13 RBI, and three players have each hit one home run. In the circle, Caitlin Kennedy has the team's lone win and a 7.54 ERA.
 
SCOUTING HARTFORD
The Hawks are 2-30 overall and 0-8 in America East play, and are in the midst of a seven-game losing streak. They entertain UConn on April 14 and travel to Quinnipiac two days later for a doubleheader before their weekend clash with the River Hawks. Margaret Betz is batting a team-high .286. Sawyer Fried leads the team with two home runs, while Jamie Soles and Jackie Kelly are tied with 12 RBI apiece. On the rubber Lexi Wilkerson has a 7.20 ERA, but remains winless on the year. Both of Hartford's wins belong to Kelsey Bird with her 7.97 ERA. Bianca Ross leads the staff with 21 strikeouts.
 
HEAD COACH DANIELLE HENDERSON ON THE WEEK
"This is the start of a very busy, two-week schedule and we are just going to take it one game at a time," said Head Coach Danielle Henderson.
 
THE LAST TIME
UMass Lowell faced Binghamton three times in 2014, earning a 6-4 win in the first game of the series before dropping the last two decisions, 12-11 and 6-1. The River Hawks split a pair of outings in Rhode Island last season, as the Rams took game one, 5-3, and UMass Lowell earned 5-4 victory in game two. In the 2014 series against Hartford, the River Hawks went 2-1 with 4-1 and 7-0 wins.
 
AROUNG THE LEAGUE
The River Hawks are currently sixth in the America East standings. The squad is ranked second in the conference stats for doubles (40), walks (97) and sacrifice bunts (19).
 
PERFORMING UNDER PRESSURE
Vanessa Cooper has become the River Hawks' most reliable bat when the pressure is on. She boasts a .359 average with runners on base, in addition to an even better .433 average with runners in scoring position.
 
HOT STREAKS
Alisha Welch is in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak that started on April 3 against UMBC. Her streak marks the team's second longest this season, as Ariana Darcy logged hits in eight straight games from Feb. 15-March 14. Junior Alyssa Zinkiewicz (Massapequa, N.Y.) owns the team's longest on-base streak this season, putting together an 11-game stretch from February 14-March 14.
 
SPEED DEMONS
Senior Ally Greene (Tewksbury, Mass.) currently sits in second place on the school's all-time record list for stolen bases (71). She needs just seven more this season to take over the top spot from Kristine Botto (77, 1998-2001). Classmate Ariana Darcy is right on Greene's heels with 68 career stolen bases, good for fourth all-time.
 
WALKING INTO THE RECORD BOOKS
Ariana Darcy drew three walks against Boston University on April 7 for a total of 75 career walks. She is now first all-time in the category, surpassing Kim O'Connell's record (72) set from 1985-88.
 
MORE RECORDS TO WATCH
Ariana Darcy is nearing the top of several other career record lists for the River Hawks. She is third overall in triples (16), tied for third in home runs (20), sixth in total bases (287), seventh in runs scored (122), and tied for ninth in RBI (94). Marielle Handley is currently fifth in program history with 268 career strikeouts, as well.
 
HONORS AND AWARDS
UMass Lowell softball swept the first week of America East awards on February 10, as Alyssa Zinkiewicz was named Player of the Week, Erica Armenti earned Pitcher of the Week honors and Vanessa Cooper was tabbed Rookie of the Week. In week three, Ariana Darcy took Player of the Week accolades and Cooper earned her second Rookie of the Week nod. Zinkiewicz (Feb. 10) and Ally Greene (Feb. 24) have also been named River Hawk of the Week this season.