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

LOWELL, Mass. - The UMass Lowell softball team (15-27) battled in a pair of closely-contested losses against Central Connecticut State University (25-8) on Thursday afternoon at River View Field.
 
The River Hawks faced a 2-0 setback in game one, and despite working hard to force extra innings in the nightcap, dropped a 7-6 heartbreaker in 10 innings.
 
"Today came down to the last swing of the bat in game two," said Head Coach Danielle Henderson. "If that fell in, it would've been a different outcome. I thought the girls battled hard all day long. I couldn't have asked for a better game."
 
Junior Brianna Martin (Methuen, Mass.) and senior Ally Greene (Tewksbury, Mass.) each turned in a 2-for-6 (.333) performance in the twin bill. Three other River Hawks also posted two hits apiece, while four team members logged one RBI. Sophomore Erica Armenti (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and senior Courtney Lanfranchi (Burlington, Mass.) took the pitching decisions in game one and two, respectively.
 
In game one, the Blue Devils took an early, 2-0 lead in the top of the second when the squad used a walk and a throwing error to put runners in scoring position for a RBI slap by Brittany Camara.
 
Junior Taylor August (Howell, N.J.) was hit by a pitch in the home half of the inning to become the River Hawks' first runner of the day, although she would not advance. In the top of the third, senior Abby Jamieson (Billerica, Mass.) grabbed a line drive and fired on to first to clear the bases and keep the margin at just two.
 
UMass Lowell recorded its first hit of the day in the bottom of the third, as Greene lined a ball back up the middle and stole second, inching closer to the school's all-time record. Both teams combined for five runners left stranded in the fourth, including a bases loaded situation for the River Hawks after Jamieson sent a blooper to shallow left, sophomore Alisha Welch (Langley, British Columbia) doubled and August walked.
 
Although Greene was able to get on base with a single hit hard off of the opposing pitcher in the fifth, CCSU's lead remained intact through the final three innings to secure the 2-0 decision.
 
Similarly to game one, the Blue Devils took a 2-0 lead in the second inning of the nightcap, this time thanks to a home run by Tori Constantin.
 
Senior Melissa King (Stamford, Conn.) caught two CCSU runners stealing to end the visitor's chances in the third and four innings. UMass Lowell carried the momentum into the bottom of the fourth, snapping a streak of 23 scoreless innings and getting on the board to cut the difference to just one. Jamieson was issued a walk before advancing all the way to third on a base hit down the right field line. King then grounded out to first, but Jamieson broke for the plate and beat the throw to make the score 2-1.     
 
The Blue Devils were quick to regain a two-run buffer in the top of the fifth with a RBI double by Katie Schmidt. However, the River Hawks came alive with a four-run rally in their next trip to the dish to take their first lead of the day. The team loaded the bases with back-to-back hits by sophomore Tori Alcorn (Lowell, Mass.) and Martin, and a walk by Greene to bring up senior Ariana Darcy (Kingston, N.Y.), who sent a sacrifice fly to deep right field. On the next play, Greene created havoc on a steal, allowing Martin to cross the plate and knot the score at 3-3. Jamieson and King followed with RBI singles to put UMass Lowell on top, 5-3.
 
CCSU pulled back in front, 6-5, with three runs on five hits in the sixth. The River Hawks retaliated once again in the home half of the seventh, tying the game on a double to left center by Martin to force extra innings.
 
The difference maker did not come until the top of the 10th inning off the bat of Constantin, when she sent a RBI single up the middle. In the bottom of the inning, Greene walked before Cooper roped a shot into center, but a long, two-out fly ball was caught to end the comeback attempt.                         
 
The River Hawks will host Albany in their final America East Conference series of the season on Saturday-Sunday, April 25-26. The squad's seven 2015 graduates will be honored on Sunday for Senior Day.