Box Score (PDF): Game 1 | Game 2

HAMDEN, Conn. – Freshman Sara Siteman (Hudson, N.H.) batted .750 (3-4) with two walks and three RBI to help the UMass Lowell softball team (6-16) split a doubleheader at Quinnipiac on Sunday.
 
The River Hawks were handed a closely-contest, 2-1 decision in game one before taking control of the momentum in game two en route to a 9-0 victory in five innings.
 
"Our bats started to come alive in the second game," said Head Coach Danielle Henderson. "It was nice to see us be able to string together some base runners with some timely hits."
 
Sophomores Marianne Sparacia (Spring Hill, Fla.) and Courtney Cashman (Danvers, Mass.), and senior Madison Alcorn (Lowell, Mass.) each contributed with three hits, as well. Alcorn added two RBI and two runs, while Sparacia logged two runs and one RBI. Freshman Lovina Capria (Deltona, Fla.) recorded her second one-hitter of the season with five strikeouts in the game two win.
 
The defense controlled game one, as the teams were scoreless through four innings. Cashman and Harding logged a hit in the first and second innings, respectively, before the River Hawks were forced to leave the bases loaded in the third. Siteman was able to come through for UMass Lowell in the top of the fifth with a two-out blast over the fence in left, giving the visitors a 1-0 edge.
 
Junior pitcher Kaysee Talcik (Shleton, Conn.) held the Bobcats without a hit until the bottom of the fifth, but the runner was stranded to keep the River Hawks' lead intact. However, Quinnipiac pulled ahead with what would become the game-winner in the sixth on to a two-run double to left center, helping to seal the 2-1 decision.
 
In the final game of the weekend, the River Hawks jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when a single to center by redshirt-sophomore Casey Harding (Cheshire, Conn.) scored Sparacia. The squad then rallied for four runs with hits from senior Samantha McQueen (Ewing, N.J.) and Siteman, and a QU miscue.
 
Capria retired the Bobcats in order in their next at-bat, allowing her offense to plate four more runs in the third, including a two-RBI base hit to right by Alcorn, to pull away, 9-0. The rookie pitcher forced Quinnipiac to go three-up and three-down in their next two trips to the plate, securing the 9-0 win in five innings.
 
The River Hawks will open up America East play next weekend with a three-game series at UMBC on Friday-Saturday, March 30-31.