ALBANY, N.Y. – The UMass Lowell softball team (15-15, 4-2 AE) split a doubleheader at UAlbany (12-11, 3-3 AE) on Saturday afternoon at UAlbany Field, falling 8-0 in five innings in the opener before bouncing back for a 4-3 extra-inning win in game two.

Sophomore Emily Baumes (Rexford, N.Y.) collected two hits on the day, while freshman Ella Van Alstyne (Beacon Falls, Conn.) tallied a hit in each game and drove in the River Hawks' first run of game two. Sophomore Thyanais Santiago (Methuen, Mass.) added two hits and two RBI in the nightcap, and junior Olivia DeCitise (Troy, N.Y.) earned the win in relief after tossing 3.2 innings with four strikeouts before helping herself at the plate with the first home run of her career.

Game 1: UMass Lowell 0, UAlbany 8 (5 Inn.)
The Great Danes struck quickly in the opener, using a four-run first inning to take early control. A two-run single opened the scoring before an error brought in two more runs to make it 4-0.

The River Hawks threatened in the top of the first after Van Alstyne doubled to left center and UMass Lowell loaded the bases with two outs, but UAlbany escaped the jam to keep Lowell off the board.

UAlbany added three more in the third, capitalizing on a throwing error and a passed ball before adding a pair of RBI hits to stretch the lead to 7-0. The Great Danes then pushed across one more run in the fifth on an RBI single to secure the run-rule decision.

Van Alstyne, sophomore Madi Wade (Hagerstown, Md.), freshman Caroline Calkins (Orting, Wash.) and sophomore Avery Spinello-Branch (Lorton, Va.) each logged a hit in the opener. Senior Giana LaCedra (Tyngsborough, Mass.) got the start in the circle, and freshman Grace Rowan (Hood River, Ore.) worked 1.1 innings in relief.

Game 2: UMass Lowell 4, UAlbany 3 (8 Inn.)
The River Hawks answered in the nightcap with a much tighter effort, striking first in the third. Spinello-Branch drew a leadoff walk and Baumes followed with a single before Van Alstyne delivered an RBI single up the middle. Later in the inning, Santiago added an RBI single to left to give Lowell a 2-0 edge.

Van Alstyne kept UAlbany off the board through the first four innings, but the Great Danes tied the game in the fifth on a two-run double. DeCitise then entered in relief and helped limit the damage, stranding the go-ahead run at third to keep the game even.

In the sixth, DeCitise gave the River Hawks the lead right back, launching a solo home run to center for the first homer of her career and a 3-2 advantage. UAlbany answered once more in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI single through the right side to tie the game and force extras.

UMass Lowell found the difference in the eighth. Santiago worked a walk, moved into scoring position on a wild pitch and stole third before sophomore Kate Hardy (Alexandria, Va.) reached on an error that brought Santiago home with the eventual game-winning run. DeCitise then closed the door in the bottom half, working around a one-out single to seal the victory.

Up Next
The River Hawks return home for five games next week, beginning with a non-conference doubleheader against Sacred Heart on Tuesday, March 31 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. UMass Lowell then continues America East play with a three-game series against Bryant on Friday, April 3 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., followed by Saturday, April 4 at 12 p.m.