BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Freshman Emily Baumes (Rexford, N.Y.) went 3-for-4, as UMass Lowell (0-7) fell, 9-5, to Eastern Kentucky (5-2) at the Camel Invitational on Saturday morning at Amanda Littlejohn Stadium.  

"Emily Baumes and Avery Spinello-Branch are playing great softball," said Head Coach Jen Starek. "They are very composed and a great top of the lineup for us." 

Baumes and sophomore Elizabeth Neeld (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) recorded extra-base hits. Baumes also contributed with two RBI and one run. Three River Hawks stole bases today, including freshman Avery Spinello-Branch (Lorton, Va.), senior Emily Tow (North Kingstown, R.I.) and sophomore Isabel Quintanilla (Puyallup, Wash.).  

Senior Jen Slanovec (Bethlehem, Pa.) started the contest in the circle, throwing one inning and striking out one to record the decision. Junior Giana LaCedra (Tyngsboro, Mass.) came in to throw five innings, striking out seven.  

Baumes continued to thrive in the leadoff spot, as she started the contest for the River Hawks with a double to right center. A well-executed sac bunt from Spinello-Branch followed this to move Baumes to third. Tow finished the inning up with a single through the left side to earn the first run of the game. Eastern Kentucky countered in the bottom half of the inning with two runs to take the lead at 2-1.  

The Colonels would strike again in the bottom of the second, as they generated four more runs to increase their lead to 6-1. 

In the top of the third, Spinello-Branch walked and then quickly stole second. Quintanilla followed with a sac fly to center, giving Spinello-Branch enough time to score, chipping away at Eastern Kentucky's lead with the score. In the bottom of the inning, the Colonels notched another run, now leading 7-2.  

Neeld got the River Hawks started in the top of the fourth, ripping a double to left field. Freshman Grace Stepp (Richboro, Pa.) followed, staying patient at the plant to earn a walk. With two runners on, freshman Taylor Dolan (Holbrook, Mass.) singled up the middle to load the bases. Freshman Kate Hardy now up, drove a grounder to short, getting out on the play, but giving Neeld enough time to cross the plate. Up next, Baumes singled up the middle, sending Dolan and Stepp home to put the River Hawks within two as Eastern Kentucky led, 7-5. In the home half of the inning, the Colonels added two runs which were generated by a homer and a single to the outfield to make it 9-5.

The fifth and sixth innings flew by, as no hits or runs were tallied by either team.  

The top of the seventh was the River Hawks last chance to score, as Baumes launched a single to right field, followed by a single to right center from Spinello-Branch. The two freshmen gave the team hope in the final inning, but the River Hawks were unable to cross the plate again, resulting in a 9-5 loss.  

Up next, the River Hawks will play in their final day at the Camel Invitational on Sunday, February 16, facing Lafayette at 9:30 a.m. at Amanda Littlejohn Stadium.