SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Junior Katelyn Fitzgerald (Ambler, Pa.) collected an RBI on the day, as UMass Lowell (0-2) fell 5-1 to Weber State (1-0) and 5-0 to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Friday at the UTSA Invitational.  

"We saw some good things today," said Head Coach Jen Starek. "We have some adjustments to make, but good effort out of a young group."

In game one against Weber State, Fitzgerald also earned a hit. Freshman Emily Baumes (Rexford, N.Y.) garnered two hits. Freshmen Callie Stubbs (Salem, Ore.) and Avery Spinello-Branch (Lorton, Va.) each earned a hit, as well. Junior Giana LaCedra (Tyngsboro, Mass.) pitched the full game, striking out two.  

In game two versus SIUE, senior Emily Tow (North Kingstown, R.I.) and sophomore Isabel Quintanilla (Puyallup, Wash.) recorded the lone hits. Senior Jen Slanovec (Bethlehem, Pa.) got the nod, pitching 3.1 innings before sophomore Olivia DeCitise (Troy, N.Y.) came for relief, throwing the remaining 3.2 innings and only giving up one run.  

Baumes got the River Hawks started in game one, as she singled to right field. Weber State then quickly took the lead, crossing the plate four times in the bottom of the first inning.  

In the fourth, Baumes restarted the offensive for UMass Lowell, as she doubled to left field, but the River Hawks were not able to get across the plate. This was followed by a great defensive inning for UMass Lowell, earning a 1-2-3 inning and holding the Wildcats to 4-0.  

Spinello-Branch would be up first in the top of the fifth, ripping a single up the middle for the River Hawks. In the bottom of the fifth, Weber State forced a runner home, as a Wildcat grounded out to second base to increase the lead to 5-0.  

Stubbs ignited the River Hawks' offense in the six, launching a double to left.  Fitzgerald followed with a single to left center, giving Stubbs enough time to make it home, grabbing a run for UMass Lowell to make the score 5-1 with the Wildcats in front. 

The River Hawks held the Wildcats in the bottom of the sixth, but no scoring opportunities came about in the seventh to end the contest with Weber State taking the 5-1 win.  

Game two was quickly underway with the River Hawks and Cougars scoreless through three innings.  

A two-run home run for SIUE in the fourth inning, along with some River Hawk miscues would put the Cougars ahead by four heading into the bottom of the inning. Tow would start to chip away for the River Hawks, as she singled to left center, followed by a single down the left field line from Quintanilla.  

The Cougars plated one more in the fifth generated by a couple of singles to then score on a wild pitch, increasing their lead to 5-0.  

The bottom of the seventh called for some UMass Lowell baserunners, as Fitzgerald reached on a walk, followed by Spinello-Branch reaching on a fielder's choice and Santiago on a walk. UMass Lowell battled until the end, but SIUE collected the 5-0 win. 
 
The River Hawks are back tomorrow, February 8 at the UTSA Invitational, as they will face UTSA with first pitch set for 2 p.m.