Missouri State Box Score (PDF) | Alcorn State Box Score (PDF)

RUSTON, La. – Redshirt-sophomore Casey Harding (Cheshire, Conn.) went 4-for-6 (.667) at the plate to lead the UMass Lowell softball team to a 1-1 record on Day One of the Louisiana Tech Invitational.
 
The River Hawks first came up just short in a 2-1 decision against Missouri State before bouncing back to get their first win of the 2018 season against Alcorn State, 4-3.
 
"It was nice to see some people step up with the game on the line and produce," said Head Coach Danielle Henderson. "We have been playing well and we needed that last game to get over that hump."
 
Harding's day included a home run and three RBI. Sophomore Marianna Sparacia (Spring Hill, Fla.) batted .600 (3-5) in the pair of games to add to the offensive effort, while freshman Olivia Labbe (Rochester, Mass.) went 2-for-3 against Alcorn State to help the squad secure the victory. Junior Kaysee Talcik (Shelton, Conn.) struck out three in a complete-game performance against Missouri State, while freshmen Katelyn Ellard (Cary, N.C.) and Lovina Capria (Deltona, Fla.) combined for the win in game two.
 
Defense controlled game one, as UMass Lowell and Missouri State were locked in a scoreless stalemate, combining for seven runners left on base through four and a half innings.
 
The Bears broke open the scoring in the bottom of the fifth with four hits, including a RBI infield single, to pull ahead, 2-0. The River Hawks cut the difference in half in their next trip to the plate when senior Madison Alcorn (Lowell, Mass.) sent a base hit through the left side to score classmate Colleen Frank (Berkeley Heights, N.J.).
 
UMass Lowell held MSU in the home half of the sixth and put the tying run on base in the seventh in the form of Harding, but she was left there to seal the 2-1 outcome.
 
In game two, the River Hawks jumped out to a 1-0 edge in the first, but Alcorn State pulled in front, 2-1, in the second. The Lady Braves then stretched their buffer to 3-1 in the third on a sacrifice fly.
 
UMass Lowell was retired in order in its next three at-bats, as Alcorn State held a two-run margin heading into the bottom of the sixth. The River Hawks battled back, though, with a base hit from Sparacia to bring up Harding, whose two-run home run knotted the score at 3-3.
 
The River Hawks then loaded the bases in the home half of the seventh with hits from freshman Maria Mocchio (Feeding Hills, Mass.) and Talcik, and a walk from Sparacia, before Harding drove the game-winning single to left center for the 4-3 victory.
 
UMass Lowell plays two more games at the LA Tech Invite tomorrow, Saturday, February 24, squaring off against the Lady Techsters at 9 a.m. and Saint Louis at 11 a.m.