LOWELL, Mass. – Sophomore Olivia DeCitise (Troy, N.Y.) and junior Giana LaCedra (Tyngsboro, Mass.) combined for 21 strikeouts on the day, as UMass Lowell (7-16, 3-2) won both ends of the doubleheader versus America East opponent Maine (6-22, 0-5) on Friday afternoon at River View Field.  

The River Hawks claimed the 3-1 victory in game one before earning a 6-3 win in game two.  

"It was exciting," said Head Coach Jen Starek. "We worked on some things after UMBC that we really wanted to see come into play. It was a good confidence builder for us." 

Senior Emily Tow (North Kingstown, R.I.) went 2-for-3 in game two, earning an RBI and three runs. Freshman Madi Wade (Hagerstown, Md.) was 2-for-4 at the plate in game two, recording two RBI and one run. Freshman Emily Baumes (Rexford, N.Y.) earned two hits on the day, two walks, one RBI and one run. Baumes and Tow both totaled two stolen bases.  

DeCitise pitched the full seven in game one, forcing a career-high 13 strikeouts en route to the victory. LaCedra notched eight strikeouts in game two, tying her career high in the complete-game win.

The Black Bears snuck in the first run of game one in the top of the first, generated by two hits, before DeCitise struck out three to get out of the inning. In the home half, Baumes earned a leadoff walk, followed by a single up the middle from freshman Avery Spinello-Branch (Lorton, Va.), but the River Hawks were scoreless through one.

DeCitise held Maine in the top of the second, as she fanned three more. In the bottom, sophomore Elizabeth Neeld (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) and freshman Kate Hardy (Alexandria, Va.) walked, followed by a fly out to right from freshman Thyanais Santiago (Methuen, Mass.), giving Neeld enough time to get to third. Up next, Baumes ripped a single down the right field line sending Neeld home to tie the score at 1-1.  

Neither side was able to plate a run in the third, but after DeCitise grabbed her 10th strikeout in the top of the fourth, the River Hawks scored two in the home half of the inning. Neeld started the offense with a single up the middle, followed by a single from Hardy through the left side. Baumes was next, earning a walk followed by Spinello-Branch reaching on a fielding error, giving two River Hawk runners enough time to score and take the 3-1 lead.

The Black Bears recorded a hit in the fifth, but the River Hawks held them from reaching the plate. In the sixth, DeCitise was credited with another strikeout for UMass Lowell. The game ended in the top of the seventh, as the River Hawks retired the Black Bears within three batters to claim the 3-1 victory.  

Maine started game two with a hit in the top of the first, but the River Hawks answered back with two hits and three runs in the bottom of the inning. Neeld put a ball in play and gave Tow the chance to score before Hardy knocked a single up the middle, scoring two to make it 3-0.

LaCedra struck out two Black Bears in the second. Tow earned a single up the middle in the bottom of the inning, but no more runs were scored for UMass Lowell. The River Hawks then continued to hold the Black Bears in the third, while also grabbing another base hit, produced by Santiago, as she ripped a single into right center.  

In the fourth, Maine picked up a run, chipping away at UMass Lowell's lead. In the home half of the inning, Baumes reached on a fielding error and then quickly stole second. Tow followed with a double to left field, sending Baumes home. Wade followed her lead with a double down the right field line, plating Tow and stretching the difference to 5-1.

After a defensive fifth, Maine earned one hit in the sixth, but was swiftly countered by UMass Lowell when Wade ripped an RBI single into left center, sending Tow home and putting the River Hawks up 6-1.  

The Black Bears battled in the seventh, as they totaled three hits and two runs to put pressure on the River Hawks, but the home team quickly picked up three outs, securing the 6-3 victory. 

Up next, the River Hawks will play their final game of the series versus Maine on Saturday, March 29 at River View Field with first pitch set for 12 p.m.