Game 1 Box Score (PDF) | Game 2 Box Score (PDF)

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Freshman Courtney Cashman (Danvers, Mass.) batted .571 (4-7) with two runs scored to lead the UMass Lowell softball team (9-13) to a doubleheader sweep at Hartford (3-24) in its first America East Conference contests of the year on Sunday afternoon.
 
Sophomore pitcher Kaysee Talcik (Shelton, Conn.) hurled her first career no-hitter in game one, as the River Hawks earned a 6-0 victory. The visitors then took a 3-1 decision in game two of the twin bill.
 
"This was a great way to start conference play," said Head Coach Danielle Henderson. "We were strong in the circle, on defense and at the plate today. I'm very proud of the way we played overall and of Kaysee Talcik for getting her first no-hitter."
 
Junior Vanessa Cooper (Pleasant Gap, Pa.) totaled three hits to bat .375 on the day. Three different River Hawks added two hits apiece, including Sydney Barker (Upland, Calif.), who paced the team with three RBI. Talcik matched a career high with eight strikeouts in the circle in game one, while senior pitcher Lauren Ramirez (Dracut, Mass.) picked up the complete-game win in the second outing with four strikeouts.
 
The River Hawks jumped on top quickly in game one, plating their first run of the day in their very first at-bat when Barker sent a hard hit ball to left to drive in senior Tori Alcorn (Lowell, Mass.), who had reached on a walk. UMass Lowell then extended its margin to 2-0 in the second thanks to some well-executed small ball. Junior Madison Alcorn (Lowell, Mass.) got things started with a walk of her own, and would advance on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout by the next two batters before scoring on a two-out, RBI single by T. Alcorn.
 
Hartford was retired in order in the bottom of the second to keep the momentum with the River Hawks, as the team rallied for three more runs in the third, including a pinch-hit RBI by senior Emily O'Brien (Salem, N.H.).
 
Following a pair of singles and a walk to begin the top of the fourth, redshirt-freshman Casey Harding (Cheshire, Conn.) drew a bases-loaded walk to give the River Hawks a 6-0 cushion. Talcik continued to dominate in the circle, sitting down nine straight Hawks in their final three chances to seal the no-hitter and the shutout victory.
 
In game two, Hartford was able to get on the board in the bottom of the first on a shot through the left side by Bianca Ross. The 1-0 difference would stand through three complete innings, as both sides went three up and three down in each of their next two trips to dish.
 
However, the River Hawks retaliated in the fourth to pull in front, 3-1. Cashman first plated T. Alcorn on a liner to right before Barker laced a two-run homer over the fence in left to give the visitors the upper hand.
 
Neither squad made any noise in the fifth, and senior Alisha Welch (Langley, British Columbia) accounted for the lone hit for either team in the six when she ripped a two-bagger to right center. Hartford brought the tying run to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Ramirez forced an infield popup to close out the 3-1 victory.
 
UMass Lowell now leads the all-time series against Hartford, 9-2. The River Hawks are back in action on Tuesday, April 4 when they travel to UConn for a 4 p.m. tilt.