Box Score (PDF)

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The UMass Lowell softball team (0-5) wrapped up its first weekend of action in the 2018 season with a 5-3 loss against Oakland (2-2) on Sunday afternoon.
 
"Tough day for us," said Head Coach Danielle Henderson. "We learned we can compete with anyone this weekend. We are now looking forward to our next trip and continuing with how we played."
 
Four different River Hawks each logged a hit in the contest, including senior Sam McQueen (Ewing, N.J.) and redshirt-sophomore Casey Harding (Cheshire, Conn.), who tallied one RBI apiece, as well. Freshman Katelyn Ellard (Cary, N.C.) went the distance in the circle with eight strikeouts.
 
Oakland got off to a quick start, using a lead-off solo home run in the top of the first to create an early lead. The River Hawks were retired in order in their first two trips to the dish, allowing the Golden Grizzlies to make the score 2-0 in the third on a miscue.
 
UMass Lowell cut the difference in half in the bottom of the inning, when junior Sydney Barker (Upland, Calif.) doubled to left before scoring on a hard liner from Harding.
 
Oakland added a run in each of the next two innings to pull away, 4-1, heading into the bottom of the fifth. The River Hawks continued to chip away with two runs in their next at-bat thanks to a pair of hits and one Oakland error, but it was the Golden Grizzlies who logged the final run of the game in the seventh to seal the 5-3 decision.
 
The River Hawks return to action next weekend, February 23-25, with five more games at the Louisiana Tech Tournament.