KINGSTON, R.I. – The UMass Lowell softball team (18-18, 5-4 AE) split a Tuesday doubleheader at Rhode Island, falling, 11-3, in six innings in game one before bouncing back with a 2-0 shutout in game two. 

"It was a good day to get some different players experience," said head coach Jen Starek. "Gianna did a solid job on the mound, and our bats were much better in game two."

Senior Giana LaCedra (Tyngsborough, Mass.) led the way for the River Hawks in game two, tossing a complete-game shutout with six strikeouts across 7.0 innings. At the plate, sophomore Madi Wade (Hagerstown, Md.) totaled two hits, including a double, and drove in a run, while freshman Ella Van Alstyne (Beacon Falls, Conn.) added two hits and an RBI in the win. In the opener, senior Katelyn Fitzgerald (Ambler, Pa.) paced the offense with two hits and two RBI. 

Game 1: UMass Lowell 3 (6 innings), Rhode Island 11
The River Hawks struck first in the top of the second, sending three runs across to build an early 3-0 advantage. Junior Elizabeth Neeld (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) and junior Isabel Quintanilla (Puyallup, Wash.) each came around to score, while Fitzgerald delivered a two-run single to give Lowell the early cushion. 

Rhode Island answered in the bottom of the third, plating three runs to even the score at 3-3. The Rams added another in the fourth to take the lead before breaking the game open with seven runs in the sixth inning. 

Freshman Grace Rowan (Hood River, Ore.) got the start in the circle and struck out four in 2.1 innings of work, while freshman Jessika Jennings (Roy, Wash.) tossed 3.1 innings in relief. Fitzgerald finished 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Lowell's five-hit effort. 

Game 2: UMass Lowell 2, Rhode Island 0
Game two remained scoreless through the first three innings before the River Hawks broke through in the fourth. Wade doubled to spark the inning, Van Alstyne drove in the first run of the game and Quintanilla followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0. 

That was all the support LaCedra needed. The senior scattered seven hits over 7.0 shutout innings, striking out six and working out of multiple jams to keep the Rams off the board. 

Wade went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI in the victory, while Van Alstyne added a 2-for-3 performance with one RBI and one run scored. Sophomore Avery Spinello-Branch (Lorton, Va.) and freshman Caroline Calkins (Orting, Wash.) each stole a base. 

Up Next
The River Hawks head to Orono, Maine this weekend for an America East series against the Black Bears.