Box Score (PDF)

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Down by two heading to the seventh, the UMass Lowell softball team (15-12) battled back to force extra innings and defeat Bryant (7-25), 7-6, in a non-conference road matchup on Wednesday afternoon.
 
With two outs in the eighth, senior Sydney Barker (Upland, Calif.) drove a two-bagger off the wall in left to score junior Marianne Sparacia (Spring Hill, Fla.) and put her squad in front. Redshirt-junior Casey Harding (Cheshire, Conn.) then followed with a hard-hit infield single for what would be the game-winning RBI.
 
"It wasn't the prettiest of games," said Head Coach Danielle Henderson. "I think the wind and the sun had a lot to do with that, but that ended up working for us in the end. I thought we were pressing a little bit at the plate to start, but we were able to loosen up. Now we have some things that we can go back and work on to keep this going."
 
The outcome marks the team's third extra-innings victory in just a week. With the decision, the River Hawks extend their win streak to seven games, tying a Division I program record. Five different River Hawks logged two hits, including Harding, who added a team-high two RBI. Senior pitcher Kaysee Talcik (Shelton, Conn.) came out of the bullpen and twirled six strikeouts en route earning the decision.
 
Sophomore Olivia Labbe (Rochester, Mass.) went with an outside pitch to tag the first hit of the game in the top of the first, but the Bulldogs plated the first run on a wild pitch in the home half of the inning.
 
The River Hawks threatened in their next trip to the dish by loading the bases, although they could not capitalize. However, freshman pitcher Kaylie See (Chino Hills, Calif.) retired the next three batters she faced, allowing her squad to even the board at 1-1 in the top of the third when junior Courtney Cashman (Danvers, Mass.) scored on a single up the middle by sophomore Maria Moccio (Feeding Hills, Mass.).
 
Bryant pulled back in front in the bottom of the inning before Cashman scored on a passed ball in the fifth to knot the game at 2-2. The Bulldogs would answer again, though, plating two runs to lead, 4-2, through six complete.
 
The River Hawks retaliated with a three-run, seventh-inning rally on four hits, including a double by junior Melany Sheldon (Garbagnate, Milan, Italy) that gave the visitors their first advantage of the contest, 5-4. The Bulldogs got one back in the bottom of the inning with a two-bagger of their own, but Talcik went top shelf for a big strikeout that stranded the go-ahead run and forced extras.
 
UMass Lowell now leads the all-time series against Bryant, 24-18. The River Hawks will have a week off before heading to Hartford for an America East doubleheader on Wednesday, April 10 at 2 p.m.