AUBURN, Ala. – A four-run, sixth inning rally by the UMass Lowell softball team highlighted the Saturday rematches against St. John's and Seton Hall on the second day of the Tiger Invitational hosted by Auburn.
The River Hawks defeated the Red Storm, 5-2, in the first contest of the day, but fell, 12-0, to the Pirates in five innings to wrap up day two of tournament action.
"We did a great job showing we can battle back in games in the first game," said Head Coach
Jen Starek. "I think we ran out of gas in the second one, and hit some bumps and bruises. We just need to recollect ourselves and remember what we were doing right and play stronger mentally."
Graduate student
Olivia Labbe (Rochester, Mass.) went 3-for-5 at the plate on the day, scoring twice, tallying an RBI and drawing one walk. Freshman
Emily Tow (North Kingstown, R.I.) sparked the River Hawk offense with a pinch-hit home run in her first of two appearances against St. John's. From the circle, junior
Ryley White (Wareham, Mass.) fanned seven batters and surrendered just six hits in her five and one-third innings pitched against the Red Storm.
UMass Lowell and St. John's were locked in a defensive duel through three innings of action in game one, with both teams struggling to advance baserunners. The River Hawks earned their first hit of the ballgame off an infield single by sophomore
Elizabeth Frederick (Sunapee, N.H.), however she was thrown out on the base paths attempting to steal.
The opponents struck first in the home half of the third inning after loading the bases. A single into left field knocked in a run, but clean defending by UMass Lowell prevented further damage.
White struck out three more hitters before St. John's was able to stretch the lead to 2-0 in the fifth inning on a double into deep center.
After changing sides, Tow dug in and fought off a couple tough pitches. She connected with the fifth pitch of the at-bat and drove the ball deep over the fence in left center, hitting the scoreboard and igniting the River Hawk offense.
Three batters later, Labbe sent a fly ball far out to center field for a two-bagger, plating Frederick from first base. Following a walk, graduate student
Maria Moccio (Feeding Hills, Mass.) battled through an eight-pitch plate appearance resulting in a single that scored Labbe from third. UMass Lowell tacked on another score courtesy of a White single flared out to center, giving the River Hawks the 4-2 lead.
In the final frame, the squad loaded the bases, enabling White to step up and draw a five-pitch walk, bringing in Labbe for the final run. A double-play and strikeout ended St. John's chances of reviving the offense and the River Hawks closed out the 5-2 win.
Against Seton Hall, UMass Lowell trailed just 2-0 heading into the third inning, but the Pirates' offense combined for five runs through their next two chances to pull away, 12-0.
Despite drawing three walks as a team in the contest, the River Hawks logged just one hit at the hands of Labbe, who attempted to jump start a response. A double down the left field line put her in scoring position, but the team was unable to capitalize.
UMass Lowell will play its final game of the weekend against the hosting Auburn Tigers on Sunday, February 13 at 1:30 p.m.
