EL PASO, Texas — The UMass Lowell softball team (2-3) erupted for 12 runs across the first four innings to defeat UTEP (3-3), 12-2, in five innings on Sunday afternoon at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex. The River Hawks struck early, broke the game open with a five-run third and backed the offense with a complete-game effort in the circle to close the NM State/UTEP Invitational on a high note.

"It was a great way to finish the weekend," said head coach Jen Starek. "Liv was outstanding in the circle, our bats were alive from the first pitch and we played really solid defense. It was a complete performance and a strong way for us to close things out."

UMass Lowell wasted little time setting the tone in the opening inning. Sophomore Avery Spinello-Branch (Lorton, Va.) reached and later came around to score on a passed ball before freshman Julia Rowley (Beacon Falls, Conn.) raced home on an RBI single from sophomore Taylor Dolan (Holbrook, Mass.) to make it 2-0 after one. The River Hawks doubled the lead in the second when junior Olivia DeCitise (Troy, N.Y.) and freshman Ella Van Alstyne (Beacon Falls, Conn.) both crossed the plate on a two-run double to right center by Spinello-Branch.

The offense broke through in a big way in the third. After sophomore Thyanais Santiago (Methuen, Mass.) reached base and moved into scoring position, Van Alstyne drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in a run. Sophomore Emily Baumes (Rexford, N.Y.) followed with another RBI walk, and a passed ball allowed DeCitise to score. Moments later, Spinello-Branch delivered again, lining a two-run single through the right side to cap a five-run inning and push the lead to 9-0.

UMass Lowell kept the pressure on in the fourth. Santiago led off with an infield single that dropped in front of the plate, hustling down the line to beat the throw and spark the inning. Freshman Caroline Calkins (Orting, Wash.) followed with a base hit to put two on before sophomore Kate Hardy (Alexandria, Va.) lined an RBI single to right. DeCitise added a run-scoring single of her own, and later in the inning Spinello-Branch drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home the River Hawks' 12th run.

Spinello-Branch finished with five RBI on two hits to lead the lineup, while Hardy added two hits and two runs scored. DeCitise helped her own cause with a 2-for-2 day at the plate, scoring twice and driving in a run, and Santiago scored twice as the River Hawks continued to pressure the bases. As a team, UMass Lowell combined timely hitting with patience at the plate to build separation early and maintain control throughout.

In the circle, DeCitise earned the complete-game win, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out five across five innings of work. She faced 21 batters and limited UTEP to just one run in the fourth and a solo home run in the fifth before closing out the run-rule victory.

The River Hawks continue their opening stretch on the 20th at the UTSA Invitational in San Antonio.