Box Score 1 (PDF) | Box Score 2 (PDF)

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Junior Brianna Martin (Metheun, Mass.) went 4-for-7 with four RBI to lead the UMass Lowell softball team (14-23, 3-7) to a pair of wins at America East Conference opponent Hartford (2-33, 0-10) at Al-Marzook Field on Saturday.
 
The River Hawks earned an 8-1 victory in game one before taking an 8-0 shutout win in five innings in game two.
 
"I thought we had a great effort from the first inning of the first game to the last inning of the second game," said Head Coach Danielle Henderson. "We have about a week left and we're just going out there to play hard. At this point of the year, you just have to get everything flowing, and I thought we did that today. I'm also excited that we've been able to get people some more experience heading into next year."
 
Martin tallied three runs on the day, as well, as the squad surpassed last year's win total with Saturday's performance. In addition, freshman Vanessa Cooper (Pleasant Gap, Pa.) and senior Abby Jamieson (Billerica, Mass.) both turned in .500 performances with three and two hits, respectively. Senior Ally Greene (Tewksbury, Mass.) added three runs and three RBI, as well. Junior Marielle Handley (Durham, Conn.) allowed just three hits with two strikeouts en route to the victory in game one. In the nightcap, sophomore Erica Armenti (Shrewsbury, Mass.) picked up her first shutout of the year with four hits in four innings of work.
 
The pitching and defense controlled the early part of game one. Jamieson, senior Ariana Darcy (Kingston, N.Y.) and sophomore Alisha Welch (Langley, British Columbia) were the lone base runners in the first three innings for the River Hawks, as each was issued a walk. Hartford recorded the first hit of the day off the bat of Sawyer Fried in the home half of the second, but she was cut down at third on a heads-up play to extinguish the opportunity.
 
The Hawks got on the board in the bottom of the third, taking advantage of a defensive miscue and a pair of singles. However, the River Hawks came alive in the top fourth, when Welch drew a walk to spark a two-out rally. Jamieson followed with her squad's first hit of the day and sophomore Tori Alcorn (Lowell, Mass.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Martin, who sent a RBI single through the left side to knot the score. Greene then stepped in and drove a base-clearing triple to deep left field before scoring on a double steal, and junior Emilia Davies (Parker, Colo.) added a RBI of her own to give the visitors a 6-1 edge.
 
Handley retired the Hartford side in order in the fourth and fifth innings. In the sixth, UMass Lowell extended its lead to 8-1 thanks to RBI from freshman Madison Alcorn (Lowell, Mass.) and senior Melissa King (Stamford, Conn). The River Hawks would hold the home squad in their final two chances at the dish to earn the victory.
 
In game two of the twin bill, Jamieson lined a base hit back at the pitcher in her team's first at-bat. The River Hawks turned a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning before breaking the game open in the second on a three-run double by Martin. She was then able to score on a wild pitch to put UMass Lowell on top, 4-0.
 
The Hawks logged a pair of hits in the bottom of the second, but were unable to cut into the visitor's lead. In the third, Davies singled through the left side, T. Alcorn walked and Martin reached on a long error to fill the bases. On the next play, Greene hit into a fielder's choice, but an error by the Hartford catcher allowed all three runs to score and push UMass Lowell's lead to 7-0.
 
The River Hawks showed off their defensive prowess in the home half of the inning, as Greene made a sliding catch in foul territory. The squad continued to carry the momentum into the fourth when Welch plated Jamieson on a two-bagger to left center.  
 
Sophomore Lauren Ramirez (Dracut, Mass.) was called out of the bullpen in the bottom of the fifth and sat down all three Hawks she faced, securing the 8-0, mercy-rule decision for UMass Lowell.
 
The River Hawks and Hartford Hawks will square off in a single game tomorrow, Sunday, April 19, beginning at 12 p.m.