Box Score (PDF)

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Freshman Sydney Barker (Upland, Calif.) went 2-for-3 at the plate, as the UMass Lowell softball team (10-37) faced a 4-1 setback at Bryant (7-33) on Wednesday afternoon.
 
"I thought we played ok, but we just didn't compete, so we gave some at-bats away," said Head Coach Danielle Henderson. "You have to be able to compete and put the ball in play hard. I felt like Bryant was in every single pitch and we were sitting back on our heels a little bit."
 
Three other River Hawks each logged one hit on the day, including sophomore Kate Mims (West Chester, Pa.), who tallied the team's lone RBI. Freshman pitcher Kaysee Talcik (Shelton, Conn.) earned the start and the decision, while classmate Sydney Wash (Suffolk, Va.) came on in relief and allowed just one hit in four innings of work.
 
Both teams made noise in their first trip to the plate with two baserunners apiece, but the game would remain scoreless through one complete. Barker registered the River Hawks' first hit of the day with a shallow pop fly that dropped in the hole near second.
 
The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the bottom of the second for Liana Ogata, who sent a two-run liner up the middle to put the home team on the board. Kaleigh Goulart would also double to right, giving Bryant an early, 4-0 buffer.
 
UMass Lowell and Bryant both went three-up and three-down in the third, however the River Hawks were able to chip away at the deficit in the top of the fourth. Sophomore Vanessa Cooper (Pleasant Gap, Pa.) got things started with a two-bagger off the fence in right before sophomore Samantha McQueen (Ewing, N.J.) was hit by a pitch and junior Taylor August (Howell, N.J.) walked to load the bases. Mims then stepped in and drove a RBI single through the right side to make the score 4-1.
 
Wash, who had come out of the bullpen in the third, continued to be successful in her relief appearance by quickly retiring the Bulldogs in the fourth and fifth innings. The River Hawks threatened in the sixth, as hits from Barker and McQueen helped the visitors put runners on the corners, although they were unable to capitalize. Bryant held UMass Lowell once again in the seventh to secure the 4-1 outcome.
 
Wednesday's contest marked the 41st meeting between UMass Lowell and Bryant in the sport of softball. The River Hawks still lead the all-time series, 23-18. UMass Lowell continues its last week of the 2016 season with its home finale tomorrow, Thursday, April 28, against Boston College. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.