LOWELL, Mass. – Redshirt-junior
Casey Harding (Cheshire, Conn.) went 2-for-2 at the plate, including a three-run home run, as the UMass Lowell softball team (14-12, 3-0 AE) shut out Maine (8-17, 0-3), 8-0, in just five innings on Sunday to sweep the three-game America East weekend series.
"I thought they did great," said Head Coach
Danielle Henderson. "This is the way to start your conference, so I thought they did a great job at the plate, and they held their own on defense, but if we can keep hitting like that, I'll be very happy."
With the decision, the River Hawks stretch their win streak to six games. The team also extends its current streak to five games with at least one home run. Sophomore
Maria Moccio (Feeding Hills, Mass.) added a home run of her own in the contest, marking her third straight game with a long ball. Senior
Sydney Barker (Upland, Calif.) chipped in with two hits on the day, while junior
Melany Sheldon (Garbagnate, Milan, Italy) boasted two RBI.
Sophomore pitcher
Lovina Capria (Deltona, Fla.) allowed just two hits in the shutout to earn her 10
th win of the season and her fifth in a row.
After a scoreless first inning from both sides, the River Hawks came alive in the second inning.
Sara Siteman (Hudson, N.H.) opened up the scoring with a double to left field, sending Barker home. Later in the second, with two runners on base, Harding homered to right center field to take the 4-0 lead. That homer marked Harding's second of the season.
In the top of the third, the River Hawks remained steady facing loaded bases, managing to hold the Black Bears scoreless again. The third inning also brought more impressive offense for UMass Lowell, with Moccio tallying a two-run home run to extend the lead to 6-0. Sheldon continued the scoring streak, doubling to center and sending two runners home in the process.
The River Hawks went into the fourth inning with an 8-0 lead, which would prove to be the final score. Neither team managed to score in the fourth, and
Courtney Cashman tallied the sole hit of the inning with a double to center field.
In the next inning, UMass Lowell held Maine to one hit and no runs, and that's all the River Hawks needed as the game ended in an 8-0 win for the home squad in just five innings.
Maine still owns an 11-8 edge in the all-time series against UMass Lowell. Up next, the River Hawks will visit Bryant for a mid-week, non-conference matchup on Wednesday, April 3 at 4 p.m.
