LOWELL, Mass. – Freshman Avery Spinello-Branch (Lorton, Va.) was 4-for-4 at the plate, as UMass Lowell (8-16, 4-2 AE) posted a 6-1 win versus Maine (6-23, 0-6 AE) in America East play at River View Field on Saturday afternoon. 

"It was a big series for us," said Head Coach Jen Starek. "Second time we played in conference and it was the home opener for conference play, so we wanted to make sure to do the little things right and adjust from last weekend." 

Spinello-Branch picked up three RBI off of her four hits. Freshman Emily Baumes (Rexford, N.Y.) and sophomore Elizabeth Neeld (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) each went 2-for-3, grabbing one run apiece, while Neeld also collected an RBI. Freshman Thyanais Santiago (Methuen, Mass.) recorded her first career home run as a River Hawk, notching two RBI.

Senior Jen Slanovec (Bethlehem, Pa.) started the game with 3.1 solid innings of work with a strikeout before sophomore Olivia DeCitise (Troy, N.Y.) was tabbed with the win, closing the contest with six strikeouts.

The Black Bears started the contest with a base hit, but the River Hawks quickly countered with three hits in the bottom of the first. Baumes singled to left and then scored on an RBI single up the middle by Spinello-Branch in that first at-bat to create an early lead. 

The River Hawks held the Black Bears in the top of the second and carried the momentum into the bottom of the inning. Hardy earned a leadoff walk, followed by a well-hit single to third from Baumes to bring up Spinello-Branch, who doubled to center, giving Hardy plenty of time to score and putting the River Hawks up, 2-0.  

The third and fourth innings were scoreless for both teams, but the River Hawks continued to pressure with two hits. 

DeCitise registered two strikeouts for UMass Lowell in the top of the fifth. Freshman Grace Stepp (Richboro, Pa.), who was behind the plate, completed the half inning, throwing out a runner at second. In the home half, Neeld walked and Santiago launched a two-run homer over the left-field fence. Sophomore Alaina Santoli (Lovettsville, Va.) then earned a single up the middle and stole second to get into scoring position for Spinello-Branch, who ripped an RBI double to right to increase UMass Lowell's lead to 5-0.  

Maine got on the board in the sixth with one run on one hit and a run." In the bottom of the inning, Tow walked and freshman Madi Wade (Hagerstown, Md.) reached on a throwing error. Neeld then singled up the middle, giving Tow enough time to score the final run.

Three quick outs for DeCitise in the seventh resulted in the 6-1 victory for UMass Lowell.  

Up next, the River Hawks will travel to face UAlbany in a three-game set starting on April 5 with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.