FAIRFIELD, Conn. – A Saturday trip to visit Sacred Heart for the UMass Lowell softball team (13-11) ended with split wins between the two squads.
The River Hawks took a late lead in the seventh inning and held onto win game one, 5-4, but were unable to repeat in the nightcap, as the Pioneers sealed a 7-2 decision.
Graduate student
Olivia Labbe (Rochester, Mass.) proved very effective at the plate for the River Hawks, hitting .375 with three runs and three RBI. She and teammate
Lea White (Meriden, Conn.) each connected to hit home runs in the opening game of the afternoon. Junior
Ryley White (Wareham, Mass.) added to her win total, now at nine, with a complete game outing from the circle.
UMass Lowell played chase with Sacred Heart through most of game one. The Pioneers got on the board in the first inning, but were immediately equaled with
Lea White's solo home run to right center field in the River Hawks' return to the plate.
The opposition answered in the third frame by adding another pair of runs to go up, 3-1, but UMass Lowell hunted them down once more. Back-to-back RBI doubles by Labbe and junior
Brenna Davenport (Merrimack, N.H.) brought things level in the midst of the fifth inning. However, the Pioneers would earn another score on an infield single in the home half to regain the lead.
With the last chance to take advantage at the plate, Labbe sent a soaring two-run homer to left center field. Sacred Heart pressured in their turn at the dish by advancing a runner to third. However, a successfully executed rundown by the River Hawks tagged out the potential tying tun, closing out the victory, 5-4.
Sacred Heart worked their way to a 3-0 lead through four innings of game two before lightning in the area resulted in a stoppage of play for roughly a half hour. Upon resuming play, the Pioneers extended the advantage by another two runs with a home run to center field.
In the top of the sixth, UMass Lowell retaliated with back-to-back RBI knocks by Lea and
Ryley White to regain some ground, 5-2. Despite the efforts, the home team responded by adding two more scores to their total, which would stand as the final result at 7-2.
The River Hawks will make the trip down the river to visit Merrimack for a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 29, with the first tilt scheduled for 2 p.m.
