NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Freshman Isabel Quintanilla (Puyallup, Wash.) batted .428 with three hits and five RBI to help the UMass Lowell softball team (5-15) split a twin bill at Merrimack (7-20) on Wednesday.
The River Hawks first earned a decisive, 5-1 victory in game one before falling, 7-5, in a close game two.
"We played well in game one and came up just short in game two," said Head Coach Jen Starek. "We're looking forward to our series with Bryant this weekend,"
Quintanilla added a home run and two runs scored to her stat line for the day, as she led the River Hawk offensive effort. Sophomore Katelyn Fitzgerald (Ambler, Pa.) also recorded three hits, while senior Lea White (Meriden, Conn.) registered three runs and three RBI. Senior Cayla Tulley (Corona, Calif.) also contributed at the plate, recording a hit, two walks and three runs across both contests. Additionally, senior Elizabeth Frederick (Sunapee, N.H.) showed her discipline at the dish, drawing three walks.
Graduate student Ryley White (Wareham, Mass.) took the circle for game one and continued her momentum from last week with her second straight win. She allowed just three hits, while forcing 13 strikeouts, good for a new season high. Sophomore Giana LaCedra (Tyngsboro, Mass.) took the decision for game two, going 3.0 innings pitched with three earned runs and five strikeouts before freshman Olivia DeCitise (Troy, N.Y.) and junior Jen Slanovec (Bethlehem, Pa.) came in for relief.
L. White was hit by a pitch to start game one and would advance to third, getting into position to capitalize on a wild pitch and create an early lead. The Warriors attempted to respond in the bottom half of the first, as Ellen Hubbard collected a leadoff double, however, the UMass Lowell defense kept the opposing lineup at bey with a fly out to junior Emily Tow (North Kingstown, R.I.) and two strikeouts from R. White to end the inning.
UMass Lowell extended its lead in the top of the second, when Tulley and L. White each stole a base to put themselves in scoring position before Quintanilla stepped up and lined a single through the center infield gap, scoring both runners and extending the advantage to 3-0.
The River Hawks threatened to further their lead in the top of the fifth after Frederick walked and junior Trinadey Santiago (Cheshire, Conn.) reached on a fielder's choice. With runners on, Fitzgerald lined a ball to shortstop and Frederick attempted to score from third, but the Warriors' catcher was able to apply the tag to keep the difference at three.
In the sixth, Tulley led off with a walk and a stolen base. L. White followed with a single to put runners on the corners, allowing Quintanilla to collect her third RBI of the day with a double into left center to extend the buffer. Fisher added an RBI single to score Quintanilla and give the River Hawks a 5-0 lead.
In the game's final inning, Merrimack grabbed its first run after Madison Cerpa doubled to left field and scored on an RBI single to make it 5-1. UMass Lowell would hold on, however, as R. White closed the game with two strikeouts to give the River Hawks the victory.
Game two was a defensive battle, as both sides accounted for just one hit through the first three innings. Fitzgerald grabbed the first hit of the game in the second inning, a single to the pitcher, but could not advance further. In the field, LaCedra found her groove early, recording five straight strikeouts to keep the game scoreless through the third.
Merrimack broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth, taking advantage of a bases-loaded opportunity. The home team proceeded to score four runs after drawing two walks and two hit-by-pitches. Emma Hubbard then lifted a double to left field, scoring two runs to make it 6-0 after four innings.
UMass Lowell responded the following inning, starting with back-to-back singles from Fitzgerald and Tow. Tulley followed with a single of her own to give the River Hawks a bases-loaded chance of their own. With two outs, L. White drove a two-bagger to center field, clearing the bases and cutting the deficit in half, 6-3. Quintanilla continued the hot hitting, as she crushed a two-run homer past the center field fencing to make it 6-5 through five.
Slanovec came in for relief in the home half of the inning, remaining composed and recording an important double play to keep the score the same after five. In the following inning, though, Merrimack added an insurance run on a solo shot from Courtney Lanpher, making it 7-5 through six.
The River Hawks would battle in the seventh, but were unable to complete the comeback, as Merrimack was able to hold on for a 7-5 decision.
The River Hawks have a quick turnaround, as they travel to Bryant this weekend for a three-game series in the America East Conference opener on March 29-30.
