ORONO, Maine – Freshman Avery Spinello-Branch (Lorton, Va.) went .500 on the day at the plate, earning two RBI, as UMass Lowell (16-23, 6-9 AE) defeated America East foe Maine (8-33, 0-15 AE), 9-0, in five innings on Sunday afternoon at the Pierre & Catherine Labat Softball Complex.  

"Great game out of the whole team today," said Head Coach Jen Starek. "Giana pitched great in difficult weather. We were aggressive at the plate and took advantage of the counts."  

Spinello-Branch also collected one run and two stolen bases. Freshman Thyanais Santiago (Methuen, Mass.) went 2-for-3 at bat with one run. Freshman Emily Baumes (Rexford, N.Y.) and freshman Madi Wade (Hagerstown, Md.) were tabbed with two RBI apiece, while sophomore Elizabeth Neeld (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) picked up one RBI.  

Junior Giana LaCedra (Tyngsborough, Mass.) was in the circle for the full five innings, claiming the win and striking out seven Black Bears.  

The contest was underway in Maine with a single knocked into right field by Spinello-Branch. The Black Bears were able to retire the remaining River Hawks, sending the game into the bottom of the first. LaCedra denied Maine any baserunners, as she forced three quick outs.  

In the second inning, the teams would each garner a hit. LaCedra ended the inning, posting two strikeouts in the circle for the River Hawks.  

Spinello-Branch reached on a fielder's choice in the top of the third, followed by an infield single generated by Santiago. Neeld then walked to load the bases. Wade earned the fourth walk of the inning, pushing in a run to put UMass Lowell up, 1-0. In the bottom of the inning, the Black Bears countered with two baserunners, but they were not able to score on the River Hawks.  

In the fourth, sophomore Olivia DeCitise (Troy, N.Y.) reached first on a fielding error by the pitcher. Freshman Taylor Dolan (Holbrook, Mass.) would step in to run for DeCitise, quickly gaining a stolen base. Baumes drove a base hit up the middle, allowing Dolan to cross home plate, increasing UMass Lowell's lead to 2-0. The River Hawks held the Black Bears to one hit in the home part of the inning.  

UMass Lowell ripped open the score in the top of the fifth. Santiago started with a single up the middle, followed by a walk from Neeld. Wade then singled to right, which scored Santiago to put the River Hawks up, 3-0. Freshman Kate Hardy (Alexandria, Va.) reached on a fielder's choice, followed by junior Katelyn Fitzgerald (Ambler, Pa.) generating a walk to force Neeld home. Freshman Grace Stepp (Richboro, Pa.) and Baumes were both hit by a pitch, recording an RBI apiece to put the River Hawks up 6-0. Spinello-Branch posted a two-RBI single to right with UMass Lowell now leading, 8-0. Santiago then walked, and Neeld reached on a fielder's choice to send home the final run of the contest. In the bottom of the inning, UMass Lowell retired Maine within three batters, ending the game in a 9-0 victory for the River Hawks.  

The River Hawks will be back tomorrow at the Pierre & Catherine Labat Softball Complex for a doubleheader versus Maine starting at 4 p.m.