Box Scores (PDF): Game 1 | Game 2

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Senior Sydney Barker (Upland, Calif.) batted .714 with five hits in a pair of wins for the UMass Lowell softball team (17-12, 5-0 AE) at America East foe Hartford (12-20) on Wednesday.
 
With the decisions, the River Hawks extend their current win streak to nine games, setting a new Division I program.  
 
"We knew Hartford was going to come out swinging and be a better team than last year," said Head Coach Danielle Henderson. "I thought we weren't as sharp in the circle as we normally are. We started out ok, but I think we should be able to finish a little bit stronger. Our bats have been strong, though, and today we were able to start creating a little bit more in the running game and bunting. The confidence that we've had knowing that we can come from behind or win a tie is what we brought in that last inning."
 
Junior Melany Sheldon (Garbagnate, Milan, Italy) added to the offense with three hits and a team-best four runs scored. Junior Marianne Sparacia (Spring Hill, Fla.), who was one of four River Hawks with two hits on the day, led the squad with three RBI. Sophomore Lovina Capria (Deltona, Fla.) and senior Kaysee Talcik (Shelton, Conn.) each picked up a win in the circle, as the pitchers combined for seven strikeouts.
 
Although Hartford threatened with a runner on third in the first inning of game one, it was the River Hawks who broke open the scoring thanks to a RBI double by sophomore Maria Moccio (Feeding Hills, Mass.) in the second. The home team evened the board in the bottom of the inning, but UMass Lowell rallied for six runs on five hits, including a two-run, two-bagger by Sparacia to pull away, 7-1.
 
Capria held the Hawks to just one hit in each of their next two at-bats until the home team cut the difference in half in the bottom of the fifth, making the score 7-4. UMass Lowell then got one run back in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Moccio, but Hartford started their next chance at the dish off with a homer by Haley Cassidy and would pull within two, 8-6. However, in the seventh, Harding sent a solo shot over the fence in left and Sparacia doubled in Sheldon to help seal the 10-6 victory.
 
In the nightcap, UMass Lowell once again jumped in front in the second inning, this time 2-0 with help from a sacrifice fly by sophomore Olivia Labbe (Rochester, Mass.) and an infield single by Cashman.
 
Talcik held the Hawks to just three hits through the first five innings, which allowed her squad to extend its margin. The River Hawks cleanly executed a squeeze bunt in the fourth before junior Christina Rizzi (Manorville, N.Y.) scored on a sacrifice fly. Redshirt-junior Casey Harding (Cheshire, Conn.) then showed her speed on the bases, stealing home to put the visitors ahead, 5-0, through five.
 
Hartford turned the momentum around in the sixth erasing the difference with the help of a grand slam. The River Hawks would not back down, though, and won the game, 6-5, with a rocket down the third base line by sophomore Sarah Ratcliffe (Pelham, N.H.).
 
UMass Lowell now leads the all-time series against Hartford, 14-2. The squad remains on the road for more conference action this weekend, visiting Binghamton for a three-game series Saturday-Sunday, April 13-14.