CHARLESTON, S.C. – Sophomore Katelyn Fitzgerald (Ambler, Pa.) batted .500 (2-4) as the UMass Lowell softball team (1-7) fell short in a pair of games Saturday afternoon at the CSU Blue/Gold Classic hosted by Charleston Southern.

The River Hawks fell, 5-1, to St. John's (3-5) in game one, before falling, 2-0, in a close battle with host Charleston Southern (5-4) in game two.

Junior Trinadey Santiago (Cheshire, Conn.) drew two walks and registered one hit and one run across both games. Seniors Lea White (Meriden, Conn.), Morgan Fisher (Glassboro, N.J.) and graduate student Cayla Tulley (Corona, Calif.) all finished with one hit for the day, including a double from Tulley in game two.

Junior Jen Slanovec (Bethlehem, Pa.) started in the circle for game one, before freshman Olivia DeCitise (Troy, N.Y) relieved her. She would pitch the remainder of the game for the River Hawks, allowing seven hits and collecting four strikeouts. Sophomore Giana LaCedra (Tyngsboro, Mass.) would get the nod for game two, going the distance with three strikeouts and seven hits allowed.

Game one saw the Red Storm take an early lead, after a walk scored Jess Bianco in the first, followed by an RBI double from London Jarrad in the second. The River Hawks would respond in the same inning, as Santiago would hit a single to left field and come home on an outfield error, cutting the difference to 2-1 through two.

In the fourth, St. John's pulled away with a two-run home run by Anese Thompson that made it 4-1. Red Storm pitcher Hannah Mearns kept the River Hawks' lineup at bay for the remainder of the game, allowing a total of three hits in a complete game with nine strikeouts, as her offense added one more run in the sixth to take the 5-1 decision.

An L. White double would kick off game two for the River Hawks before the Buccaneers opened the scoring with a Madelyn Lee RBI single to give the home team an early, 1-0 lead after the first. 

Defense was the name of the game, as both sides accounted for just six hits for the remainder of the day. It was not until the sixth inning that the Buccaneers added an insurance run from Lacy Johnson, who hit an RBI sacrifice fly to left field.

The River Hawks threatened with the game on the line, as Santiago would draw a walk to on base in the top of the seventh. Freshman Alaina Santoli (Lovettsville, Va.) would pinch run for Santiago before Tulley stepped up to the plate and drove a double down the left field line, putting runners on second and third. However, the visitors were unable to capitalize, as CSU was able to hold on to secure the 2-0 outcome.

The River Hawks conclude their weekend at the CSU Blue/Gold Classic with a game against St. Johns on Sunday, February 18, at 10 a.m.