SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The UMass Lowell softball team closed out its Roadrunner Classic appearance with an 8–2 setback to Stephen F. Austin in Sunday morning's championship game at Roadrunner Field.

Facing a tough opponent in the title game, the River Hawks battled throughout and broke through in the sixth inning. Sophomore infielder Avery Spinello-Branch (Lorton, Va.) led off the frame with a double before sophomore outfielder Thyanais Santiago (Methuen, Mass.) followed with an RBI double to left. Santiago later came around to score on a fielding error to account for Lowell's two runs.

Spinello-Branch paced the offense with two hits and a run scored, while Santiago added a hit and an RBI. Freshman infielder Caroline Calkins (Orting, Wash.) and sophomore catcher Callie Stubbs (Salem, Ore.) each recorded hits, and sophomore infielder Emily Baumes (Rexford, N.Y.) delivered a pinch-hit single in the seventh as the River Hawks threatened late.

In the circle, freshman Ella Van Alstyne (Beacon Falls, Conn.) drew the start, with freshman Jessika Jennings (Roy, Wash.), senior Giana LaCedra (Tyngsborough, Mass.), and freshman Grace Rowan (Hood River, Ore.) combining in relief.

Defensively, the River Hawks turned a key caught stealing in the second inning, as Stubbs fired down to second to erase a runner and halt additional damage. The infield also combined for several routine plays, including clean chances from Spinello-Branch and junior infielder Elizabeth Neeld (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) to keep traffic limited in the later innings.

The River Hawks return to action March 6–8 when they travel to Towson, Md. for the DeMarini Tiger Clash.