HAMPTON, Va. – The UMass Lowell softball team (9-5) capped off its weekend at the Spartan-Pirate clash with a pair of shutout wins over Rider and co-host Hampton on Sunday afternoon.
 
The River Hawks' defense shined as they took down the Broncs, 3-0, and followed up the performance with a 4-0 victory over the Pirates.
 
Junior Brenna Davenport (Merrimack, N.H.) wrapped up the day by going 2-for-4 at the plate, driving in three RBI including a solo home run against Hampton. Left fielder Cayla Tulley (Coronoa, Calif.) continued her hot streak from a day prior, following her Saturday success with a .571 average (4-7) between both Sunday matchups. The junior also knocked in three RBI, including a two-run homer to propel the team over Rider.
 
In the circle, freshman Jen Slanovec (Bethlehem, Pa.) allowed just five hits to the Broncs, earning her second victory of the season. Junior Ryley White (Wareham, Mass.) shut down Hampton behind six strikeouts and surrendered only two hits to the Pirates.
 
Rider proved to be a challenge in the morning tilt, as UMass Lowell went hitless until the fourth inning of the contest. The River Hawks pressured in the fifth frame following a double by graduate student Maria Moccio (Feeding Hills, Mass.) that advanced another baserunner to third. However, the Broncs made a diving effort to complete a double play in the infield that ended the scoring threat.
 
The next trip to the plate, the River Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to Tulley's home run. In the home half of the inning, Rider was sat down 1-2-3, giving UMass Lowell momentum to add more baserunners in the final inning and score on a wild pitch for the final tally.
 
The afternoon matchup with Hampton started off on a similar note to that against Rider. A defensive stalemate lasted three frames, with neither team able to earn a hit. As the UMass Lowell batting order made their second trips to the plate, Davenport turned on a 2-1 count and drove the ball over the left field fence to secure the 1-0 advantage.
 
She returned to the dish yet again an inning later, smacking a hit through the middle gap to rack up another two RBI for the River Hawks.
 
UMass Lowell hoped to add on any insurance they could muster in the final innings and in the seventh frame, Tulley whacked an RBI double to push the River Hawk advantage to 4-0, sealing the fourth win of the weekend for the squad.
 
The River Hawks return to action next weekend for their first non-invitational matchup, as they travel to regional opponent Central Connecticut State for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 12.