NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Behind a historic performance in the circle and a power surge at the plate, the UMass Lowell softball team (14–13) swept a midweek doubleheader at Merrimack on Wednesday, taking Game 1, 6–0, before completing the sweep with a 9–4 win in Game 2.
"We had two really strong games today. Liv was fantastic in the first game — a perfect game is pretty special — and we made some great defensive plays behind her," said head coach Jen Starek. "It was also good to see our bats stay hot, and I'm really excited for Ella to get her first win. Now it's about carrying that momentum into the weekend."
Junior Olivia DeCitise (Troy, N.Y.) delivered a career performance in the opener, tossing a perfect game with 11 strikeouts — the first of her career and the program's first since the 2019 season. At the plate, sophomore Emily Baumes (Rexford, N.Y.) led the way with five hits and four runs scored across the doubleheader, while the River Hawks combined for four home runs in Game 2 — their most in a single game this season.
Game 1: UMass Lowell 6, Merrmack 0
The River Hawks wasted no time setting the tone in the opener. Baumes and junior Elizabeth Neeld (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) opened the first with back-to-back singles before sophomore Madi Wade (Hagerstown, Md.) drove both in with a two-run double to center, giving Lowell an early 2–0 edge.
Lowell continued to build in the third. Baumes worked a walk before Wade struck again, this time ripping an RBI triple to right. Junior Isabel Quintanilla (Puyallup, Wash.) followed with an RBI double to push the advantage to 4–0.
The offense added on in the fourth, as freshman Julia Rowley (Beacon Falls, Conn.) singled and later scored on an RBI single from freshman Ella Van Alstyne (Beacon Falls, Conn.). Lowell tacked on one more in the seventh behind Wade's third hit of the day, extending the lead to 6–0.
In the circle, DeCitise was dominant from the start, striking out the side in the first and never allowing a baserunner. She finished with 11 strikeouts, retiring all 21 batters she faced to secure the perfect game.
Game 2: UMass Lowell 9, Merrimack 4
Lowell carried that momentum into the nightcap, jumping out early once again. Baumes singled to open the game before Neeld launched a two-run home run to center, putting the River Hawks in front 2–0. Two innings later, freshman Caroline Calkins (Orting, Wash.) launched the first home run of her collegiate career, a solo shot to extend the lead to 3–0.
Merrimack responded in the third, capitalizing on a pair of errors before a three-run home run flipped the score to 4–3.
The River Hawks answered in the fifth. Rowley worked a walk, stole second, and came around to score on a Merrimack miscue to even the game at 4–4.
Lowell took control for good in the sixth. Sophomore Thyanais Santiago (Methuen, Mass.) led off the inning with a solo home run to reclaim the lead. After a single and stolen base from sophomore Avery Spinello-Branch (Lorton, Va.), Quintanilla delivered the decisive swing with a two-run home run to center, stretching the lead to 7–4.
The River Hawks added insurance in the seventh, as Santiago tripled and later scored on a sacrifice fly before Baumes drove in another run with a double to cap the 9–4 final.
Senior Giana LaCedra (Tyngsborough, Mass.) got the start in the circle, while freshman Ella Van Alstyne (Beacon Falls, Conn.) earned her first collegiate win in relief, tossing the final 4.1 innings and allowing just one hit with five strikeouts to secure the victory.
Up Next
The River Hawks hit the road this weekend for an America East series at UAlbany on March 28–29.
