Manhattan Box Score (PDF) | Siena Box Score (PDF)

MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – Junior Alisha Welch (Langley, British Columbia) went 4-for-6 (.667) to lead the UMass Lowell softball team (1-3) to a 1-1 record on Day Two of the EMU Madeira Beach Invitational.
 
The River Hawks earned their first win of the year, 9-0, in five innings against Manhattan before falling, 1-0, against Siena.
 
"Our defense and pitching have been solid so far," said Head Coach Danielle Henderson. "Our bats came alive in the first game today and we had opportunities to score in the second game. We looked a bit more confident at the plate and I am looking forward to us putting it all together to finish up the weekend."
 
Welch added two runs, one RBI and a 1.000 slugging percentage on the day. Freshman Brianna West (Fairfield, Conn.) (.400) and senior Alyssa Zinkiewicz (Massapequa, N.Y.) (.200) paced the squad with two RBI apiece, while junior Tori Alcorn (Lowell, Mass.) went 3-for-8 to finish with a .375 batting average in the two games.
 
Two freshmen made their first career starts in the circle for UMass Lowell. Kaysee Talcik (Shelton, Conn.) picked up the complete-game shutout against Manhattan, allowing just one hit. Classmate Sydney Wash (Suffolk, Va.) went the distance in game two, allowing four hits and one walk.
 
The River Hawks jumped in front quickly in game one against Manhattan, taking advantage of their first trip to the plate. Welch logged a one-out single to center field to get on base for Zinkiewicz, who blasted her second long ball of the tournament over the fence in left center, putting UMass Lowell on top, 2-0.
 
The River Hawks extended their lead to 3-0 in the second thanks to back-to-back doubles from West and Welch. The team then rallied for five runs in the fourth, including a RBI walk from sophomore Madison Alcorn (Lowell, Mass.) and a two-run sacrifice fly from West, to make the score 8-0.
 
Talcik, who retired the Jaspers' side in order through the first three innings of play, did not allow a hit until the bottom of the fourth. In the top of the fifth, junior Alyssa Hasbrouck (Middletown, N.Y.) stepped in as a pinch hitter and led off with a base hit. Junior Emily O'Brien (Salem, N.H.) followed with a walk before both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Sophomore Samantha McQueen (Ewing, N.J.) followed with a fielder's choice that scored Hasbrouck. The squad then held Manhattan to one runner in the bottom of the fifth to seal the 9-0, mercy-rule win.
 
UMass Lowell, who was also the visiting team in game two, threatened to take another early lead, but left the bases loaded in the top of the first. Freshman Sydney Barker (Upland, Calif.) singled for the River Hawks in the second, and advanced all the way to third, but The Saints used a solo homer in the bottom of the inning to take a 1-0 edge through one complete inning.
 
Hasbrouck walked in the third before both teams went three-up and three-down in their next at-bat. Siena stranded two in the home half of the fourth, giving the River Hawks a chance in the fifth. Welch registered a one-out hit up the middle, but she would not advance. UMass Lowell was then unable to get anything started in its final two trips to the plate, as the Saints sealed the 1-0 decision.
 
The River Hawks will play their fifth and final game of the EMU Invitational tomorrow, Sunday, February 21 at 11:30 a.m. against Georgia Southern.