LOWELL, Mass. – A walk-off via run rule wrapped up the regular season for the UMass Lowell softball team (26-18, 10-7 America East) as they took down Stony Brook (31-16, 10-6 America East), 10-2, on Senior Day.
 
The offense was spearheaded once again by graduate student Maria Moccio (Feeding Hills, Mass.) who added four RBI to her tally in the ballgame with a two-hit performance. Sophomores Becca Vaillancourt (Tiverton, R.I.) and Elizabeth Frederick (Sunapee, N.H.) also recorded multi-RBI games, each driving in a pair for the home squad. In the circle, senior Kaylie See (Chino, Calif.) finished the afternoon with a win in her final game at River View Field, her second of the season.
 
"We have to give a ton of credit to the pitching staff this series," said Head Coach Jen Starek. "They did an awesome job, picked up the slack, worked really well together and made it really easy for us to do this. We've been talking about peaking at the right time and working as a staff. They've done a great job all year and they're in the perfect spot right now. The second season starts tomorrow. It's not 'Goodbye' to the seniors, it's 'Let's get started.'"
 
Moccio opened up the scoring right out the gate for UMass Lowell by driving a ball down the left field line and over the head of the fielder to put the hosts ahead, 2-0.
 
With runners at the corners, Vaillancourt drove a shot through the left side to bring in both players on a double. Later in the inning, a sacrifice fly hit to center field by sophomore Morgan Fisher (Glassboro, N.J.) gave space for Vaillancourt to coast home safely. The next hitter, junior Cayla Tulley (Corona, Calif.) cracked a lined shot down the first base line, scoring the runner from second to push UMass Lowell to a 6-0 advantage.
 
Stony Brook bit into the River Hawk lead with a solo home run to lead off the fourth frame. The Seawolves pressured and loaded the bases, eventually drawing a walk to bring the score to 6-2. However, a couple of smart, situational plays to throw home and record two force outs, by shortstop Lea White (Meriden, Conn.), limited the damage.
 
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the River Hawks found their offensive stride once more. With a pair of runners in scoring position, Moccio hit a flare into left field for a two RBI knock, extending the home team's lead to six runs once more.
 
With no outs in the inning and runners now at second and third, Frederick singled to left center to bring in both River Hawk runners for RBI, walking off the 10-2 win in the regular season finale.
 
The River Hawks will prepare themselves for the postseason, where they will take part in the America East tournament hosted by Binghamton. Game times and matchups are to be determined.