ORONO, Maine — The UMass Lowell softball team (20–19, 10-5  AE) stormed back with six runs in the seventh inning to defeat Maine (9–27, 4-7 AE), 8–4, in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at the Labat Softball Complex.

Junior Madi Wade (Hagerstown, Md.) and sophomore Emily Baumes (Rexford, N.Y.) powered the offense in the comeback, each driving in two runs in the decisive seventh, while junior Olivia DeCitise (Troy, N.Y.) delivered a dominant relief outing to secure the win.

After falling behind 4–0 in the opening inning, the River Hawks turned to DeCitise, who held the Black Bears scoreless across 6.1 innings, allowing just three hits while striking out 10. 

Lowell broke through in the fourth inning, as junior Isabel Quintanilla (Puyallup, Wash.) delivered a two-run single to cut the deficit in half.

The River Hawks kept Maine off the board the rest of the way, highlighted by a leaping grab at the wall from freshman Ella Van Alstyne (Beacon Falls, Conn.) in left field that robbed the Black Bears of a potential home run and preserved the deficit.

Still trailing 4–2 heading into the seventh, the River Hawks erupted. Sophomore Avery Spinello-Branch (Lorton, Va.) sparked the rally with a bunt single before Baumes tied the game with a two-RBI base hit. Wade followed with a go-ahead two-run single to give Lowell its first lead of the day. A sacrifice fly from junior Elizabeth Neeld (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) and an RBI triple by freshman Julia Rowley (Beacon Falls, Conn.) added insurance to cap the six-run frame. 

DeCitise closed the door in the bottom half, stranding a runner and sealing the 8–4 comeback victory.

Baumes (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Wade (2-for-4, 2 RBI) led Lowell's 10-hit effort, while Quintanilla added two hits and two RBI. Rowley chipped in a triple and RBI, as seven different River Hawks recorded a hit in the win.

Up Next
The River Hawks return home to host Holy Cross on Tuesday for a doubleheader.