Box Score (PDF)

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Despite a seventh-inning rally, the UMass Lowell softball team (4-12) fell, 6-3, against Butler (14-11) to wrap up play at the Michele Smith Spring Break Tournament on Sunday afternoon.

"Today, it took us too long to get us going in the game," said Head Coach Danielle Henderson. "We had a really bad first inning, and because it took us so long to get moving, it was too late to make up the difference."
 
Junior Tori Alcorn (Lowell, Mass.) logged two hits (.667), one run and one RBI to pace the River Hawks. Junior Alisha Welch (Langley, British Columbia) added one hit and one RBI, while freshman Ashley Smits (Worcester, Mass.) logged her first hit of the season, as well. Freshman Kaysee Talcik (Shelton, Conn.) went the distance in the circle to move to 1-3 on the year.
 
The River Hawks left runners on the corners in their first chance at the dish after T. Alcorn and Welch each got aboard with a base hit. Butler was then able to jump out to a 6-0 edge in the home half of the inning. The Bulldogs used three hits, including a two-run triple, along with a pair of UMass Lowell miscues to create early margin.
 
T. Alcorn drew a walk in the top of the third and showed her speed on defense in the bottom of the inning, charging in for a slow roller and firing onto first to strand two Bulldogs in scoring position.
 
In the fourth, freshman Sydney Barker (Upland, Calif.) extended the River Hawks' at-bat with a two-out line drive to center field, but the squad was unable to capitalize. When UMass Lowell returned to the field, sophomore Madison Alcorn (Lowell, Mass.) used her range to snag a long fly ball over her shoulder in left, ending the inning.
 
The Bulldogs threatened once again in the fifth with the bases loaded, but the River Hawks got out of the situation unscathed. M. Alcorn continued to impress in left in the sixth, reining in three straight shots sent her way to make for a quick half inning.
 
UMass Lowell would not go quietly, putting together a two-out rally in the top of the seventh. Sophomore Alyssa Hasbrouck (Middletown, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch and M. Alcorn doubled to left, putting two on for T. Alcorn, who knocked in the team's first run of the day. Smits followed with a RBI infield single before Welch plated T. Alcorn. However, the team would not close the gap further, as the Bulldogs sealed the 6-3 decision.
 
The River Hawks will remain in Florida for a pair of games against Quinnipiac and Army on Wednesday, March 16 beginning at 11 a.m.