VESTAL, N.Y. – The UMass Lowell softball team (10-13, 6-6 AE) finished the day on a high note, bouncing back for an extra-innings victory in game two of a doubleheader at Binghamton (8-12, 4-8 AE) on Saturday.
 
Although the Bearcats earned an 11-5 decision in game one, the River Hawks came out on top in game two, a 2-1, defensive stalemate in eight innings.
 
"After struggling in the first game, I'm glad we were able to bounce back in the second, and hold on to win that battle," said Head Coach Danielle Henderson.
 
Graduate student Christina Rizzi (Manorville, N.Y.) and senior Maria Moccio (Feeding Hills, Mass.) each totaled three hits in the twin bill. Moccio added two RBI, including what would be the game-winner in game two. Senior Courtney Cashman (Danvers, Mass.) chipped in with two hits and three RBI of her own in game one.
 
Senior Lovina Capria (Deltona, Fla.) took the decision in the circle in game one, although just four of the 11 runs she allowed were earned. Sophomore Ryley White (Wareham, Mass.) threw all eight innings in game two, striking out eight to improve to 7-2 on the year.
 
The River Hawks plated two runs in each of their first two trips to the dish in game one to jump out to an early, 4-0 advantage. Moccio got the team on the board with a RBI double in the first and sophomore Cayla Tulley (Corona, Calif.) followed with a RBI single in the same at-bat before Cashman drilled a two-run home run to left in the second.
 
However, the Bearcats cut into the difference with three unearned runs in the home half of the second and rallied for eight runs on seven hits in the third to pull in front, 11-4. Cashman would log extra bases again in the sixth, this time with her first triple of the season to knock in senior Olivia Labbe (Rochester, Mass.), but it was not enough to overcome the Binghamton lead.
 
It was a tale of two games, though, as the second was not a high-scoring affair like the first. Instead, it was a pitchers' duel that was highlighted by great defensive plays to keep it scoreless through seven innings.
 
Binghamton threatened by putting a pair of runners on base on three different occasions, including in the bottom of the seventh, but each time White and the River Hawks staved off the attack. In the sixth, Labbe made a great catch in center field before throwing back to first for a double play. And despite having Bearcats on second and third in the seventh, White forced a strikeout and a lineout to send the game into extras.
 
Rizzi kept the River Hawks alive in the eighth with a two-out double, and would score on a base hit to center by senior Sara Siteman (Hudson, Mass.). Moccio followed with a hard-hit ball to the grass of her own, plating senior Sarah Ratcliffe (Pelham, N.H.) to give her squad the 2-0 edge.
 
Binghamton quickly loaded the bases with no outs in the home half of the inning, and despite Ratcliffe making a heads up play at the plate to get the first out, the home team would cut the lead in half with a RBI walk from Hannah Lyons. The River Hawks buckled down, though, and got an infield popup and lineout from the next two batters to end the game and hold on for the 2-1 victory.
 
The River Hawks and Bearcats are back in action with another doubleheader tomorrow, Sunday, May 2 beginning at noon.