UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A Sunday split for the UMass Lowell softball team (12-8) wrapped up the Penn State Invitational in exciting fashion for the River Hawks.
While the squad came up shy of a comeback in a morning loss to Cornell, 8-5, UMass Lowell was able to turn things around with a late rally to defeat Rider, 4-2, to close out the weekend.
Sophomore Becca Vaillancourt (Tiverton, R.I) ended her day with a 4-for-7 showing in the batter's box that resulted in two RBI, including a home run. Despite the result against Cornell, first baseman Maria Moccio (Feeding Hills, Mass.) went 3-for-4 and drove in an RBI.
The River Hawks' weekend rematch with Cornell began as a defensive duel, with neither team able to break through on the scoreboard until the fourth inning.
Cornell was first to take advantage and go up, 2-0, but UMass Lowell answered immediately in the home half of the fourth to jump out front. Two RBI singles by sophomore Morgan Fisher (Glassboro, N.J.) and Moccio knotted things up, followed by a solo home run by junior Brenna Davenport (Merrimack, N.H.) that pushed the River Hawks to a 3-2 lead.
The back-and-forth battle would continue, as the Big Red sparked a six-run sixth inning to move out front once more, 8-3. Again, UMass Lowell pushed on offense and was able to narrow the gap. A base knock by graduate student Olivia Labbe (Rochester, Mass.) halved Cornell's score. Later, Moccio capitalized on a throwing error by the Big Red to help draw nearer, 8-5.
The River Hawk defense held strong in the final frame and eagerly returned to the plate. Patience at the dish resulted in two walks, loading the bases for UMass Lowell. Unfortunately, the efforts were not enough and Cornell recorded the final outs to seal the win.
In the weekend finale against Rider, the River Hawks and Broncs dueled with impressive defense. Once more, goose eggs remained in the score column for both units through three frames.
UMass Lowell broke open the scoring thanks to two solo home runs hit by Vaillancourt and sophomore Lea White (Meriden, Conn.) in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively.
Rider brought the score back to even in the bottom half of the fifth inning, which would hold until the final turns at the plate.
Vaillancourt came through with an RBI single through the right side to put UMass Lowell on top. Following the tally, Fisher drew a walk with loaded bases, allowing an insurance run to coast to the plate. The River Hawk defense was rock solid in the Broncs' last attempt to score, clinching the win, 4-2 in the seventh inning.
The final invitational of the season for the River Hawks leads into a doubleheader with Boston University that will begin in Beantown on Wednesday, March 23 at 12 p.m.
