LOWELL, Mass. – Sophomore Elizabeth Neeld (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) earned an extra base hit on the day, as UMass Lowell (13-22, 5-8 AE) fell in the doubleheader versus Binghamton (24-11, 10-2 AE) in America East play at River View Field on Friday afternoon.  

The River Hawks fell, 5-0, in game one and 14-0 in game two.

"We wanted to come out and test ourselves against a really good team," said Head Coach Jen Starek. "I think in the first game we did a nice job of that." 

Sophomore Alaina Santoli (Lovettsville, Va.) broke up the Bearcats' no-hitter in game two, as she earned a base hit and went 1-for-2 at the plate. Neeld and freshman Kate Hardy (Alexandria, Va.) picked up a hit in game one. Freshman Avery Spinello-Branch (Lorton, Va.) earned two stolen bases, while senior Emily Tow (North Kingstown, R.I.) registered one.  

Junior Giana LaCedra received the start in game one and struck out four in 6.1 innings of work. Senior Jen Slanovec (Bethlehem, Pa.) came in for relief to pitch to the remaining two batters. Sophomore Olivia DeCitise (Troy, N.Y.) was in the circle for game two, pitching 1.2 innings. Slanovec finished up the game, throwing 3.1 innings with four strikeouts.  

Game one started with a quick, three-up-three-down inning for LaCedra, as she struck out two Bearcats. In the bottom of the inning, freshman Emily Baumes (Rexford, N.Y.) and Spinello-Branch totaled walks, followed by a sac bunt from freshman Thyanais Santiago (Methuen, Mass.) to advance the runners, although the River Hawks were not able to push a run across. 

In the second inning, Binghamton got its offense started with two hits to total two runs. In the home half of the inning, Neeld placed a double down the right field line. Hardy then executed with a sac bunt to push Neeld to third, but the Bearcats were able to get out of the inning wUtah the 2-0 edge.  

Binghamton would record one hit in the third, but the at-bat quickly came to a halt thanks to freshman Grace Stepp (Richboro, Pa.), who made a successful pickoff attempt at first base.  

In the fifth, Hardy notched a single down the right field line and advanced on a sac bunt from junior Katelyn Fitzgerald (Ambler, Pa.). Freshman Taylor Dolan (Holbrook, Mass.), pinch running for Hardy, reached third on a caught fly ball in the outfield, but no River Hawks crossed the plate. 

Tow ran the sixth inning as she made two excellent grabs at the fence to help the River Hawks hold the Bearcats. However, Binghamton earned five hits in the seventh to generate three runs and increase its lead to 5-0. In the home half of the inning, Tow reached first on a fielding error by second. Next, Neeld reached on a fielder's choice, trading places with Tow. The same play would happen again as Hardy reached on a fielder's choice to trade places with Neeld. UMass Lowell was unable to score, forcing the game to end in Binghamton's favor, 5-0.   

Game two quickly started with two runs on two hits from the Bearcats. In the bottom of the first, Spinello-Branch reached on a fielding error by the pitcher and was able to steal second and third. Tow and Santiago walked to load the bases, but no River Hawk runs were registered.  

In the second inning, Binghamton recorded five hits for four runs, increasing its lead to 6-0. The River Hawk defense held the visitors scoreless in their next two trips to the dish, though.  

It was a busy fifth inning for Binghamton, as six hits produced eight runs. With one more chance to score for UMass Lowell, DeCitise reached first on a walk. Santoli then singled to the pitcher and forced a throwing error allowing DeCitise to get to third. Spinello-Branch was the last River Hawk runner of the contest, as she tallied a walk. UMass Lowell was unable to score, ending the contest in a 14-0 victory for Binghamton.  

The River Hawks will be back tomorrow for game three of the series versus Binghamton with a 12 p.m. first pitch at River View Field.