Fordham Box Score (PDF) | Seton Hall Box Score (PDF)

BRONX, N.Y. – Freshman catcher Sara Siteman (Hudson, N.H.) went 5-for-7 (.714) at the plate with a 1.143 slugging percentage to lead the UMass Lowell softball team (3-13) to a 1-1 record on Day One of the Fordham Tournament on Friday.
 
The River Hawks first faced a 5-2 setback against Fordham (7-14) before snapping a six-game skid with a 10-8 win against Seton Hall (12-13).
 
"Today we battled hard and it showed in the second game," said Head Coach Danielle Henderson. "Fordham has had the same type of preseason schedule that we have had and they were able to take advantage of some of the opportunities we gave them. Seton Hall was a battle back-and-forth every inning."
 
Siteman totaled a team-best five RBI and three doubles, including season-high marks for a single game with three RBI and two doubles against Seton Hall. Sophomores Marianne Sparacia (Spring Hill, Fla.) and Courtney Cashman (Danvers, Mass.) chipped in with .500 and .429 batting averages for the day, respectively, and two RBI apiece. Sparacia, who logged her first career home run against the Pirates, paced the team with a 1.167 slugging percentage. In the circle, freshman Lovina Capria (Deltona, Fla.) picked up the win to improve to 3-3 on the season with five strikeouts in the complete-game performance.
 
The River Hawks plated their first run of the day in the top of the first against Fordham, as Siteman doubled down the right field line. However, the Rams quickly took the lead with three in the in the bottom of the first with the help of a two-run homer.
 
Both sides scored a run in the third, including senior Madison Alcorn (Lowell, Mass.), making the score 4-2 in favor of the home team through three complete. The final run of the game came in the fourth, as Fordham took the 5-2 decision.
 
In game two, the River Hawks jumped in front of Seton Hall thanks to a RBI double from Siteman in the first and a two-run home run from Sparacia in the second. The Pirates rallied for five runs on five hits in the bottom of the second, though, to pull in front, 5-3.
 
UMass Lowell was quick to answer, scoring three runs in their next trip to the dish to regain the upper hand. Alcorn led off with a triple to right center before scoring on a double down the left field line by Cashman. Siteman and junior Sydney Barker (Upland, Calif.) also tallied RBI singles in the inning to make the score 6-5.
 
SHU evened the board at 6-6 in the home half of the third with a base hit through the right side. The score remained knotted until the top of the fifth, when senior Vanessa Cooper (Pleasant Gap, Pa.) drove a two-out, RBI two-bagger and pinch runner Colleen Frank (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) scored on a wild pitch. The Pirates made it a one-run game in their next at-bat, but Cashman and Siteman each knocked in a run in the sixth to help secure the 10-8 victory.
 
The River Hawks will wrap up tournament play with two more games tomorrow, Saturday, March 17, against Holy Cross (9 a.m.) and Detroit Mercy (11:30 a.m.).