Game 1 Box Score (PDF) | Game 2 Box Score (PDF) | Highlights | Postgame Interview

LOWELL, Mass. – Freshman Courtney Cashman (Danvers, Mass.) hit .600 (3-5) on the day with two RBI, as the UMass Lowell softball team (11-15, 3-1 AE) went 1-1 in a doubleheader against America East foe UAlbany (16-10, 1-3 AE) on Saturday.
 
The River Hawks came from behind to take game one, 9-6, before facing a 4-2 setback in game two. With the win, the squad has already tied its total number of wins from a season ago. Additionally, the 3-1 America East record marks the program's best start in conference play at the Division I level.
 
"I thought in our first game, we played well and hit well," said Head Coach Danielle Henderson. "We hit with runners in scoring position in the first game, but in the second game we left too many runners on and made a few errors, which gave Albany some opportunities. I'm excited for tomorrow because it'll be our first test to get a conference series win this year."
 
Cashman added three walks to her stat line for the day. Sophomore Sydney Barker (Upland, Calif.) also totaled three hits and two RBI with three runs scored, while senior Alisha Welch (Langley, British Columbia) went 2-for-6 (.333) with two runs. Relief pitcher Sydney Wash (Suffolk, Va.) picked up the win in the circle and senior Lauren Ramirez set a season best with eight strikeouts in her complete-game performance.   
 
The Great Danes broke open the scoring in their first chance at the dish in game one, taking advantage of an overthrow on a stolen base attempt before plating a run on a sacrifice fly. However, the River Hawks were quick to answer in the home half of the inning, using a shot up the middle from Barker and a pair of wild pitches to pull in front, 3-1.
 
UAlbany was retired in order in the second thanks in part to junior Vanessa Cooper (Pleasant Gap, Pa.), who made an unbelievable diving grab in foul territory to end the at-bat. The visitors put together a four-run third, though, as Sarah Petzold led off with a long ball and Elizabeth Snow added a two-run double to left center to help the Great Danes regain the upper hand at 5-3.
 
UMass Lowell chipped away at the difference in the fourth, when freshman Marianne Sparacia (Spring Hill, Fla.) scored Welch, who had reached on a base hit to right. The home squad then rallied for four runs on five hits, including the go-ahead RBI single from Welch, to pull back in front, 8-5. The Great Danes made it a two-run ball game on a RBI groundout in the top of the sixth, but the River Hawks got the run right back in the bottom of the inning on a solo homer by Barker to seal the 9-6 victory.
 
In game two, the River Hawks threatened in their first at-bat, putting runners on second and third, although they were unable to capitalize. Ramirez kept the Great Danes out of the hit column through three innings, as the contest remained scoreless until the visitors put four on the board in the fourth to take the lead.
 
UMass Lowell made noise in the bottom of the inning with a lead-off double from Cooper and a walk from Cashman, but UAlbany would hold onto the 4-0 advantage. The River Hawks cut the difference in half in the fifth, loading the bases for Cashman, who drove in two runs on a liner to shallow left.
 
The River Hawks continued to pressure, bringing the tying run up to bat in each of the last two innings, but UAlbany extinguished the opportunities to hold on for the 4-2 outcome.
 
UMass Lowell now owns a 10-7 edge in the all-time series against UAlbany. The River Hawks and the Great Danes will square off in the rubber match tomorrow, Sunday, April 9, beginning at 12 p.m.