TOWSON, Md. – The UMass Lowell softball team (6–7) posted an 8–0 shutout victory over Coppin State on Saturday morning at Tiger Softball Stadium as play continued at the Towson Tiger Invite. The River Hawks tallied 10 hits and combined for a two-hit shutout in the circle. 

"It was a good game with timely hitting and strong pitching," said head coach Jen Starek. "Hopefully we can keep the bats hot tomorrow as we finish out the weekend."

Junior infielder Elizabeth Neeld (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) led the River Hawks with two hits, two runs scored and an RBI, while freshman catcher Julia Rowley (Beacon Falls, Conn.) added a double and drove in a run. Sophomore Madi Wade (Hagerstown, Md.) scored twice and reached base twice, and junior Isabel Quintanilla (Puyallup, Wash.) recorded two hits and an RBI.

In the circle, junior Olivia DeCitise (Troy, N.Y.) earned the win after tossing four scoreless innings and allowing just one hit while striking out three. Freshman Ella Van Alstyne (Beacon Falls, Conn.) closed out the game with three shutout innings, surrendering one hit and striking out three to complete the two-hit shutout. 

UMass Lowell wasted little time getting on the board in the opening frame. Emily Baumes (Rexford, N.Y.) led off with a single and moved into scoring position before Rowley drove her in with a double to left field to give the River Hawks a 1–0 lead.

Lowell extended its advantage in the second inning. Quintanilla doubled to center before DeCitise followed with a run-scoring double of her own. Alaina Santoli (Lovettsville, Va.) later added an RBI single down the left field line to push the lead to 3–0.

The River Hawks added two more runs in the third. Wade singled and later came around to score before Bergan Needles (Ashburn, Va.) delivered an RBI single that brought home Neeld to make it 5–0.

Lowell continued to add on in the fifth when Neeld doubled to right center to score Wade and extend the margin to six.

The River Hawks capped the scoring in the seventh inning. With the bases loaded, Caroline Calkins (Orting, Wash.) worked a walk to force in a run before Needles crossed on a wild pitch to make it 8–0.

Meanwhile, DeCitise and Van Alstyne combined to keep Coppin State off the board, allowing just two hits across seven innings to secure the shutout victory.

The River Hawks wrap up play at the Towson Tiger Invite on Sunday morning, facing rematches with Central Connecticut at 10 a.m. and Coppin State at 12:30 p.m.