NORFOLK, Va. – With two outs in the top of the seventh, sophomore Elizabeth Neeld (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) drove in two runs to help propel UMass Lowell (2-10) to a 6-5, comeback win against Norfolk State (6-7) on the final day of the Spartan/Pirate Challenge Sunday afternoon at NSU Softball Field.
"Great team win today," said Head Coach Jen Starek. "We battled back with two outs in the seventh. Liz Neeld has really stepped up this weekend, with Liv helping at the plate and in the circle."
Neeld went 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI, including the game-winning, two-run double in the seventh. Senior Emily Tow (North Kingstown, R.I.) was 2-for-4 with two RBI, two runs and one stolen base. Freshman Taylor Dolan earned an extra-base hit and one RBI. Freshmen Avery Spinello-Branch (Lorton, Va.) and sophomore Alaina Santoli (Lovettsville, Va.) contributed with stolen bases, as well.
Sophomore Olivia DeCitise (Troy, N.Y.) pitched the full seven for the River Hawks, striking out eight to claim the win.
It was a scoreless first inning for both teams. In the top of the second, Neeld got things rolling with a single through the right side, but no River Hawk runs were recorded. In the home half of the inning, a triple would score the first run of the game for the Spartans. Norfolk State then picked up another run, as a Spartan was able to steal home, putting the team up 2-0.
A quiet third inning would lead to an action-packed fourth inning for the River Hawks. Spinello-Branch reached first on an error and quickly stole second before advancing to third on a perfect sac bunt by DeCitise. Tow up next, singled to short to plate Spinello-Branch. Neeld followed with a double to center, which scored Tow to even the score at 2-2. A double to left field from Dolan would then send in the go-ahead run for UMass Lowell to make it 3-2.
The Spartans kept it interesting, as they notched a run in the bottom of the fifth to retie the score at 3-3. In the sixth, the River Hawks put two runners on base, but they were left stranded before Norfolk State leapt ahead, 5-3 with a double to center and a RBI bunt.
The River Hawks picked up two early outs in the top of the seventh, but Spinello-Branch ignited UMass Lowell's offense with a single through the right side. DeCitise followed with a base hit to the left side and Tow singled to right to score Spinello-Branch, making it a one-run game. Neeld then stepped in and ripped a two-bagger to left to push across the final
two runs of the contest. In the home half of the inning, DeCitise shut the Spartans down with 10 pitches to help her team seal the 6-5 victory.
Up next, the River Hawks will travel to Clarksville, Tenn. to participate in the Cathi Maynard Invitational, first facing Bucknell on Friday, March 7 at 10:30 a.m.
