Box Score (PDF)

ALBANY, N.Y. – Freshman Marisa Carrasco (Peoria, Ariz.) logged three RBI to lead the UMass Lowell softball team (5-24, 0-4 AE) in a 5-4 loss to open a three-game series against America East foe UAlbany (17-8, 3-0 AE) on Friday afternoon.
 
"We played hard today, but there were just a couple plays that didn't fall our way," said Head Coach Danielle Henderson.
 
Carrasco was one of six River Hawks to tally a hit in the outing. Freshman pitcher Sydney Wash (Suffolk, Va.) went the distance in the circle, recording a personal-best seven strikeouts.
 
The River Hawks jumped out to an early, 3-0 advantage in their first at-bat. Freshman Sydney Barker (Upland, Calif.) kept the inning alive with a two-out double to left before classmate Vanessa Cooper (Pleasant Gap, Pa.) and sophomore Samantha McQueen (Ewing, N.J.) each drew a walk, loading the bases for Carrasco, who drove a base-clearing two-bagger deep into the outfield to put her squad on top.
 
Junior Tori Alcorn (Lowell, Mass.) legged out a bunt single and stole second in the top of the second, but she would not advance any further. Wash retired the opposition in order in the home half of the inning with the help of a pair of strikeouts. However, the Great Danes cut the difference to just one in the third on a two-run homer by Maggie Cocks.
 
UMass Lowell made the score 4-2 in the fourth when freshman Brianna West (Fairfield, Conn.) doubled down the right field line and eventually scored on a wild pitch. The home team threatened in their next trip to the plate, putting runners on the corners with no outs, but the River Hawk defense extinguished the opportunity and kept the two-run buffer intact.
 
Both sides left one runner stranded in the fifth and the visitors went three-up and three-down in the sixth. UAlbany rallied in the bottom of the sixth with three runs on three hits and one fielding miscue to pull in front, 5-4. The River Hawks were unable to make a comeback in their final chance, allowing the Great Danes to steal the decision.
 
The River Hawks and the Great Danes will wrap up their series tomorrow, Saturday, April 2, with a twin bill beginning at 1 p.m.