CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Senior Courtney Cashman (Danvers, Mass.) went 5-for-7 (.714) at the dish, as the UMass Lowell softball team faced a pair of setbacks on day two of the Governors Classic in Clarksville.
 
The team first battled through nine innings against IPFW, but came up just short, 7-6, in the extra-innings heartbreaker. In the afternoon, the squad fell, 8-3, against tournament host Austin Peay.
 
"I thought we just needed to string some more things together today to win," said Head Coach Danielle Henderson. "Now we get the chance to bounce back tomorrow."
 
Two of Cashman's five hits were for extra bases. She also added three runs scored. Three other River Hawks logged multiple hits on the day, including junior Maria Moccio (Feeding Hills, Mass.), who totaled two hits and two walks. Sophomore Kaylie See (Chino Hills, Calif.) registered a personal-best six strikeouts in 6.2 innings in the circle in game one.
 
The first half of game one against IPFW was a defensive stalemate, as the scoreboard remained blank through the first four and a half innings. During that stretch, See held the Mastodons to just two hits.
 
The strong defensive showing allowed the River Hawks to break the game open in the bottom of the fourth. The team rallied for four runs on four hits, including a RBI sacrifice bunt by senior Christina Rizzi (Manorville, NY.) to put her team ahead, 4-0.
 
See forced a 1-2-3 sixth inning, but IPFW came back late, tying the score at 4-4 in the top of the seventh with the help of a three-run home run by Brooke Imel and forcing extras. Another three-run jack, this time by Alaina White, gave IPFW its first lead in the ninth, and although Cashman and Rizzi crossed the plate in the River Hawks' final chance, the Mastodons held on for the 7-6 extra-innings decision.
 
In game two against Austin Peay, Cashman led off with a base hit, but the Governors would plate the first run of the outing in the bottom of the third on a single through the left side.
 
APSU held the River Hawks without a hit in their next two at-bats, allowing the home team to stretch the lead to 6-0 with the help of five runs on five hits in the fifth. UMass Lowell cut into the difference with a two-run homer from Cashman and a solo jack from Moccio in the top of the sixth, but the Governors got one back in the home half of the inning for the final run of the contest to seal the 8-3 decision.
 
The River Hawks will wrap up the tournament tomorrow, Sunday, March 8, with games against Bradley (11:30 a.m.) and Austin Peay (3:30 p.m.).