First Pitch of 2026

2/5/2026 11:36:00 AM

The UMass Lowell softball team opens the 2026 season on Feb. 6 at the NMSU/UTEP Invitational, bringing back a roster that features multiple everyday starters, a veteran presence in the circle, and a class of eight newcomers added during the offseason. With returning contributors across the infield, outfield, and pitching staff, the River Hawks begin the season with depth throughout the lineup as they prepare for a 56-game slate under head coach Jen Starek.

Several key contributors return after logging significant playing time during the 2025 season, led by a group of underclassmen who were everyday fixtures in the lineup. Emily Baumes started all 46 games last season and led the team with a .304 batting average, while Avery Spinello-Branch appeared in 43 games, hitting .293 and leading the team with 19 stolen bases. In the outfield, Thyanais Santiago played in 42 games and provided consistency on both sides of the ball, finishing the year with a .981 fielding percentage. Elizabeth Neeld and Kate Hardy each appeared in more than 40 games, offering defensive versatility across multiple positions.

April 18, 2025, Lowell, MA: UMass Lowell Softball takes on Binghamton at the River View Field in Lowell, Massachusetts. Friday, April 18, 2025. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/UMass Lowell Athletics)

Santiago, who earned America East Preseason All-Conference recognition entering the year, noted the balance the roster has developed as another incoming class joins the program. “I think we’re really well-rounded now — we have a little bit of everything,” she said. “Everyone wants to be out on the field, and that brings a lot of competitiveness. We come in with good energy and a good work ethic, and we push each other because we all want to perform our best.”

In the circle, UMass Lowell returns Olivia DeCitise, who served as the team’s primary pitcher during the 2025 campaign. DeCitise logged a team-high 125.1 innings across 27 appearances, recording 132 strikeouts and 10 wins. Senior Giana LaCedra also returns after making 28 appearances and 20 starts last season, while additional pitchers gained experience across 75 total pitching appearances.

According to Starek, leadership within the pitching staff has been a point of emphasis entering the season. “Our pitchers have been working really hard,” she said. “Liv and Gianna have done a great job getting themselves where they need to be and helping the underclassmen get ready. That leadership at that position has been really important.”

The River Hawks also add eight newcomers to the roster for 2026, with additions across the infield, outfield, and pitching staff. The incoming class includes seven freshmen and one junior transfer, expanding positional depth throughout the roster.

The newcomers include freshmen Mackenzie Griffith (Boonsboro, Md.), Julia Rowley (Beacon Falls, Conn.), Ava Perrotta (Methuen, Mass.), Grace Rowan (Hood River, Ore.), Caroline Calkins (Orting, Wash.), Ella Van Alstyne (Beacon Falls, Conn.) and Jessika Jennings (Roy, Wash.), along with junior transfer Bergan Needles (Ashburn, Va.).

Senior Katelyn Fitzgerald pointed to the impact of that depth during the preseason. “Having a bigger roster than we’re used to gives us a lot of flexibility,” Fitzgerald said. “It allows us to move people around into different positions and compete with each other at a high level, which helps us compete against whoever we’re playing.”

The 2026 schedule opens with the UTEP Invitational before continuing through a non-conference stretch that features multiple tournament weekends and extended road travel through early March. UMass Lowell will compete in invitationals at UTEP, UTSA, and Boston University before opening America East play on March 21 with a home series against Maine at River View Field. Conference competition continues through early May, with the regular season concluding May 2 at Binghamton ahead of the America East Championship.

With returning starters across the field, an expanded roster, and a full conference slate ahead, the River Hawks enter the 2026 season with a group shaped by experience and continued development. As head coach Jen Starek reflected, “Last year was a big learning year, and that gave this group a clear picture of what it takes.” UMass Lowell opens the season this weekend in El Paso, carrying that foundation into a spring defined by opportunity and growth.

2026 SCHEDULE