LOWELL, Mass. – Senior Emily Tow (North Kingstown, R.I.) was 5-for-8 at the plate, as UMass Lowell (13-20, 5-6 AE) took two wins versus Merrimack (7-24) on Wednesday afternoon in non-conference play at River View Field.
The River Hawks collected an 11-5 victory in game one and a 5-1 win in game two versus the Warriors.
"I think everything was on point," said Head Coach Jen Starek. "We looked very solid offensively and we stayed consistent."
Tow recorded two RBI and three runs to pace the team at the dish. Sophomore Elizabeth Neeld (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) added to the effort with three hits, two runs and one RBI. Freshman Emily Baumes (Rexford, N.Y.) and freshman Thyanais Santiago (Methuen, Mass.) each picked up doubles in game one. The River Hawks recorded 12 stolen bases today, as well, with Tow and Santiago each picking up three.
Senior Jen Slanovec (Bethlehem, Pa.) received the start in game one, going 4.1 innings in the circle to claim the victory. Junior Giana LaCedra (Tyngsborough, Mass.) came in for relief, throwing the remaining 2.2 innings and striking out two. Sophomore Olivia DeCitise (Troy, N.Y.) got the nod for game two, throwing the full seven to strike out nine and take the win.
Merrimack took the early lead in game one, generating a run from a passed ball. In the bottom of the first, however, Baumes got the River Hawks started with a double to right center before scoring on an error to erase the difference. Freshman Madi Wade (Hagerstown, Md.) then drilled a single to right to plate Santiago and would eventually score on a single up the middle by Tow to put the River Hawks on top, 3-1.
In the second, Merrimack recorded a run from a wild pitch to cut the difference to just one. The home team was quick to retaliate, though, as freshman Grace Stepp (Richboro, Pa.) walked and then quickly advanced to third on ground outs before scoring on a miscue to make it 4-2.
A quiet top of the inning would lead to a four-hit third from the River Hawks, generating four runs. Tow, Neeld, Fitzgerald and Santiago would all be credited with base hits to help increase the River Hawks' lead to 8-2.
The Warriors answered back in the fourth with three runs, putting pressure on the River Hawks. Hardy registered her team's lone hit in the bottom of the inning with a well-placed single through the left side ahead of a single through the left side by Stepp in the fifth.
The Warriors were able to notch another hit in the sixth, but the River Hawks continued their offensive efforts. Santiago started the inning with a leadoff double to left and quickly made it home from a wild pitch. Tow tagged an RBI single, as freshman Taylor Dolan (Holbrook, Mass.) dashed home. To finish up the inning Stepp hit a textbook sac fly to center, allowing Tow to score and helping the River Hawks take the 11-5 decision.
Game two was underway when the Warriors earned one hit in the top of the first. In the home half of the inning, freshman Avery Spinello-Branch (Lorton, Va.) walked and then advanced to second on a ground out. Next, Wade singled through the right side, sending Spinello-Branch home to take the 1-0 lead.
The Warriors evened the score in the second thanks to two hits. In the bottom of the inning, Fitzgerald was the lone River Hawk hit, as she earned a single to right. Neither side was able to break the 1-1 stalemate in the third, although the River Hawks totaled two base runners.
The top of the fourth sparked the River Hawks' momentum, as DeCitise struck out two and retired the Warriors within three batters. In the bottom of the inning, DeCitise and Fitzgerald earned back-to-back base hits. UMass Lowell then collected two runs generated by a wild pitch and a ground out to go up, 3-1.
The top of the fifth was also a 1-2-3 inning, consisting of another two strikeouts for DeCitise. In the home half of the inning, Tow and Neeld earned singles and then quickly scored on a wild pitch, as the ball drifted far beyond the Warriors' reach. Going into the sixth, the River Hawks had the 5-1 lead.
A quiet top of the sixth followed for Merrimack before a solo hit from Neeld in the bottom of the inning. DeCitise would swiftly shut the Warriors down in the seventh, striking out the side to help UMass Lowell to a 5-1 win.
The River Hawks are back home at River View Field on Friday, April 18 for a three-game America East series versus Binghamton starting at 1 p.m. The contest will be a dedication game for Morgan's Message.
