EMMITSBURG, Md. – The UMass Lowell softball team (3-11) returns to action after a 12-day break to face off against Mount St. Mary's. The three-game series begins with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 16, followed by a single game on Sunday, March 17.

Saturday, March 16

at Mount St. Mary's (DH) (2:00 pm) – Live Stats | Watch

at Mount St. Mary's (DH) (4:00 pm) – Live Stats | Watch

Sunday, March 17

at Mount St. Mary's (12:00 pm) – Live Stats | Watch

Team History

Mount St. Mary's University – All-time record: 1-0 | Last meeting: March 15, 2014 (9-8, UML)

Last Time Out

UMass Lowell concluded their Maryland road trip by splitting a doubleheader against George Mason. The River Hawks fell, 14-4, in five innings, in game one before quickly bouncing back and earning a 5-3 win in game two. The team was scheduled to play Georgetown the following day, but inclement weather forced that outing to be cancelled. Senior Ellie Frederick (Sunapee, N.H.) led the River Hawk offense, batting 3-for-7 with three hits, including a home run, and three RBI. Senior Lea White (Meriden, Conn.) also performed well, collecting two hits, two RBI and one run across both contests. Sophomore Giana LaCedra (Tyngsboro, Mass.) made one start, throwing 4.1 innings with a 3.41 ERA and two strikeouts. Senior Ryley White (Wareham, Mass.) also made an appearance, pitching 3.2 innings, allowing one earned run and grabbing five strikeouts for the win.

Leading the Flock

Lea White and senior Morgan Fisher (Glassboro, N.J.) lead the River Hawks at the plate through 14 games. L. White is batting .354 with 17 hits, three doubles and nine RBI, while Fisher is hitting .341 with 15 hits, eight runs, two home runs and six RBI. Ellie Frederick has also impressed, batting .298 with 14 hits, 11 runs, six RBI and five doubles. Freshman Isabel Quintanilla (Puyallup, Wash.) leads all freshmen with a .222 batting average, 10 hits, four runs and four RBI. Ryley White (Wareham, Mass.) has found her rhythm in the circle, making eight appearances and six starts. She leads the River Hawks in wins (3), strikeouts (47) and batting average against (.285). Her efforts last week against George Mason earned her the America East Pitcher of the Week, as announced by the conference on Tuesday, March 12.

Patience at the Plate

The River Hawks remain disciplined at the plate, leading the conference in walks drawn with 46 total, so far. Isabel Quintanilla and junior Trinadey Santiago (Cheshire, Conn.) lead the squad and the conference in walks with seven each. Graduate student Brenna Davenport (Merrimack, N.H.) and Lea White follow close behind with five each, respectively. Graduate Student Cayla Tulley (Corona, Calif.), freshman Elizabeth Neeld (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) and Ellie Frederick have also displayed strong discipline, having earned four walks each. 

Too Fast to Catch

Through the first month of the season, the River Hawks have a near-perfect stolen base percentage, going 16-for-17. Ellie Frederick leads all players with five stolen bases, followed by Lea White with four, freshman Elizabeth Neeld (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) with two and junior Emily Tow (North Kingstown, R.I.) with two. Three River Hawks have also recorded one stolen base.

Conference Leaders

The River Hawks have several players who rank highly in conference statistics through the first month of the softball season. Isabel Quintanilla and Trinadey Santiago both rank first in walks drawn (7), while Lea White ranks in the top ten in the conference in batting average (.356), hits (16) and RBI (9). Cayla Tulley is one of four players in the America East to record a triple. In the field, Morgan Fisher leads the conference in putouts (67) and runners caught stealing (7), while Brenna Davenport leads the conference in fielding percentage (1.000) and double plays (4).

Scouting the Mountaineers

Mount St. Mary's ended the 2023 season with a 15-5 conference record, going 32-19 overall to claim second in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. So far, the team is 3-11 in 2024, splitting a doubleheader against Coppin St in their most recent outing. Entering this season, Mount St. Mary's was projected to finish fourth in the 2024 MAAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 84 points. The team lost several key players from their 2023 squad, but do return 2023 MAAC All-Rookie Team selection Maddie Coleman. This season, she has a 1-3 with a 2.51 ERA, making seven appearances, including four starts. Coleman has pitched 26.1 innings, allowing 32 earned runs and 52 hits, and collecting 14 strikeouts and a team-high two complete games. At the plate, the Mountaineers are led by catcher Tori Bowles and utility player Abigayle Perry. Bowles ranks first on the team in several sitting statistics, including batting average (.316), hits (13), doubles (3), and RBI (8). Perry leads her team in runs (10) and stolen bases (8), while posting a .139 batting average with five hits, six RBI and a home run.