Box Score

BALTIMORE, Md. – Senior Lea White (Meriden, Conn.) went 3-for-4 (.750) with a home run and two RBI, as the UMass Lowell softball team (8-20, AE 3-5) defeated UMBC (16-17, 5-7 AE), 4-3, in game three to win its first America East Conference series of the year on Sunday afternoon.

Junior Emily Tow (North Kingstown, R.I.) batted .667 with an RBI and a run, while sophomore Katelyn Fitzgerald (Ambler, Pa.) grabbed two hits to bolster the offense. Senior Elizabeth Frederick (Sunapee, N.H.) and graduate student Cayla Tulley (Corona, Calif.) also contributed with one run each, while graduate student Brenna Davenport chipped in with a single. 

Freshman Giana LaCedra (Tyngsboro, Mass.) started in the circle for the series finale, pitching a complete game victory with four strikeouts.

A leadoff long ball over the fence in left field from L. White kicked the game off, giving the visitors an early 1-0 advantage. UMass Lowell continued to pressure the UMBC defense, grabbing back-to-back singles from Fitzgerald and Tow to start the second inning. Both runners would advance, but UMBC pitcher Kya Matter escaped the threat to keep the score at 1-0.

The Retrievers had an opportunity to level the score in the bottom of the third after putting runners on base with a single and a walk. However, LaCedra and the River Hawk defense held off the attack, forcing two pop outs to close the inning.

UMass Lowell would capitalize on the momentum in the top of the fourth, starting with a hard-fought walk from Frederick and a stolen base. Fitzgerald then delivered a left-field single to put runners on the corners before Tow drove a ball past the shortstop to score Frederick from third and extend the buffer to 2-0. Davenport continued the stretch with a sacrifice fly to deep left field to make it 3-0, followed by an RBI single from L. White to build the lead to 4-0.

LaCedra performed well in the circle, allowing just four hits and no runs through the first five innings of the contest.

UMBC cut into the deficit in the bottom of the sixth, though, as Haley Luginbill sent a homer to left to make it 4-2. The hosts continued to battle into the last inning of the game, recording two singles to put runners on the corners. Amaya Carroll brought home the Retrievers' third after hitting into a fielder's choice, but Frederick was able to catch a ball sent deep to center to secure 4-3 UMass Lowell win.

The River Hawks now return to River View Field to host a doubleheader with Binghamton, set for Wednesday, April 17, starting at 1 p.m.