Quality pitching by junior
Ryley White (Wareham, Mass.) backed up by a reactive defense kept the Spartans at bay on the scoreboard, despite the opponent's seven hits. She would finish the evening with nine strikeouts to record her fourth win of the season.
Five different River Hawks recorded an RBI on the evening, including the two-run double by Labbe. Sophomores
Lea White (Meriden, Conn.) and
Elizabeth Frederick (Sunapee, N.H.) turned in solid approaches at the dish, each recording two hits, an RBI and a run.
"Overall, this was just a solid team win," said Head Coach
Jen Starek. "All around we had good pitching, quality defense and timely hitting. We're off to a great start to the season."
UMass Lowell jumped out to a 4-0 lead in just the second inning of the ball game. Graduate student
Maria Moccio (Feeding Hills, Mass.) got the River Hawks on the board with a sacrifice fly to right field that gave time for Frederick to slide through home safely. Doubles by
Lea White and Labbe to right field and left center, respectively, knocked in another trio of runs to extend the lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, Norfolk State began to rally and pressured offensively. The Spartans hit a deep double that opened the door for the hosts to score a runner from first base. A perfectly executed relay from Frederick to
Lea White to catcher
Becca Vaillancourt (Tiverton, R.I.) beat the runner headed home, though, drawing the inning to a dramatic close.
The River Hawks kept the momentum, thanks to a solo home run by junior
Brenna Davenport (Merrimack, N.H.) over the right center field fence. Frederick then followed it up two batters later by hitting into a fielder's choice to stretch the lead to 6-0.
While the Spartans answered with a solo shot and later an RBI single, the advantage held to give UMass Lowell the victory.
The River Hawks travel to Hampton
Saturday morning to play Drexel and the co-hosting Pirates
at 10 a.m. and
12 p.m.
