UMass Lowell Athletics

Game 1 (PDF) Game 2 (PDF) | Highlights

LOWELL, Mass – The UMass Lowell softball team (16-28, 5-10) split a pair to America East conference foe Albany (24-14, 7-4) Saturday afternoon from River View Field.

The River Hawks fell 10-1, in game one before winning 7-3 in game two.

"Overall, it was great that we were able to forget about game one, and get to play a new game in game two," said Head Coach Danielle Henderson. "We had some great at-bats, Erica pitched well, and our defense did a great job. It was a great team effort. Senior Day is always special, and I don't have to tell them anything tomorrow to get them ready. They're going to be playing their hearts out tomorrow".

Senior Brianna Martin (Methuen, Mass.) had four hits on the day along with 2 RBI's, while Ally Greene (Tewksbury, Mass) had three hits on the day as well as two RBI's. Junior Marielle Handley (Durham, Conn.) and sophomore Lauren Ramirez (Dracut, Mass) spilt time in the circle for game one, while sophomore Erica Armenti (Shrewsbury, Mass.) started in the circle for game two.

In game one, Albany struck first in the top of the second when Marlin Solano hit a solo homerun to left giving the Great Danes an early 1-0 lead. In the third, Vicky McFarland extended the Great Danes lead to 3-0 with a two-run homerun to right center. The visitors broke it open in the fifth as they scored four runs in the inning. Maggie Cocks recorded an RBI single to left, and then Elizabeth Snow hit a three-run homer to left to give Albany a 7-0 lead.

In the home half of the fifth, Abby Jamieson (Billerica, Mass.) recorded the River Hawks' first hit and base runner of the game reaching with an infield single, but was stranded at first base. UMass Lowell finally got to Albany pitcher Devin Durando in the sixth when Martin singled to left, and scored when Green doubled off the fence in left.

Albany added three insurance runs in the seventh to make the score 10-1. The River Hawks threatened with runners on second and third in the seventh but could not do any damage.

Catcher Emilia Davies (Parker, Colo.) threw out three Albany runners trying to steal second base in three consecutive innings. The River Hawks defense continued to shine as they recorded three double plays in game one.

In game two, the hosts threatened in the first, as Greene singled to right, and put herself in scoring position by stealing second. With her steal, she tied the school record with 77 career-stolen bases with Kristine Botto, (1998-2001).

Neither team was able to plate a run in the first two innings until Albany struck in the third as Kelly Costello laced an RBI double to the left-center gap, giving the Great Danes an 1-0 lead. They extended their advantage to 2-0 as Snow blooped a single into left, scoring Costello from third.

The River Hawks responded in the third as Tori Alcorn (Lowell, Mass.) led off with a triple to the right-center gap. She came around to score when Martin singled off the pitcher's glove to cut the deficit to 2-1. Greene then laced a double to the left-center gap, putting runners on second and third with no outs. Ari Darcy (Kingston, N.Y.) plated Martin from third with an RBI ground out to tie the game at two. Freshman Vanessa Cooper (Pleasant Gap, Pa.) hit an RBI single to left to give UMass Lowell its first lead of the afternoon at 3-2.

Albany responded right back in the fourth when Kayla Bailey reached on a throwing error by Armenti and advanced to third on the play. She would come around to tie the game at three when Alexa Toole grounded out to shortstop.

In the fifth, the River Hawks loaded the bases with hits from Cooper and Alisha Welch (Langley, British Columbia), Jamieson getting hit in the right elbow. Alyssa Zinkiewicz (Massapequa N.Y.) recorded an RBI walk, putting the River Hawks in front 4-3. Alcorn then hit one back to the pitcher who fired to the first baseman who dropped the ball, allowing two runs to cross the plate extending the lead to 6-3. Martin then connected on her third hit of the ball game with an RBI single to left to add an insurance run.

Both teams went scoreless in the sixth before Armenti retired the Great Danes in order in the seventh to preserve the win.

The River Hawks return to action Sunday afternoon for Senior Day & Alumni Day against Albany at 12 pm.  Pregame ceremonies will honor Martin, Darcy, Melissa King (Stamford, Conn.), Courtney Lanfranchi (Burlington, Mass.), Greene, Daniele Crutcher (Londonberry, N.H.), and Jamieson for their contributions to UMass Lowell Softball.