LOWELL, Mass. – The Saint Anselm College softball team split a pair of games with the University of Massachusetts Lowell, to remain in first place in the Northeast Division of the Northeast-10 conference on Saturday afternoon at River View Field.
With the doubleheader split, the Hawks move to a 15-14 overall record and 12-6 in league play, while the River Hawks now stand at a 15-18 record, 11-3 in the league.
In the first game of the day's doubleheader, Saint Anselm began its six-run rally a little too late, in an attempt to overcome the nine-run deficit the Hawks had heading into the final inning.
Kasey Moran (Medford, Mass.) began the scoring sequence with single up the middle. Hannah Byrne (Lynn, Mass.) followed that up by working a walk. Next to the plate was Hayley Lombard (Boynton Beach, Fla.), who also singled, loading the bases for Nicole Boucher (Woonsocket, R.I). Boucher cranked out the third single of the inning, scoring Moran, while advancing to second herself. Lauren Galavotti (Marion, Mass.) then doubled down the left field line, clearing the bases for three RBI.
As the Hawks cut the lead to five at 4-9, Julie LeClair (Taunton, Mass.) hit a two-run homerun to left bringing the game to its final score of 9-6.
Tayla Trask (Lincoln, Maine) threw seven innings for the Hawks, earning six strikeouts.
In game two against UMass Lowell, the River Hawks put up one run in the first inning, before the Hawks scored two in the third to take the lead at 2-1. Lombard doubled to right to begin the inning, followed by a Boucher homerun to center to get Saint Anselm on the board.
UMass Lowell answered back in its next at bat to tie the game 2-2, when Paige Cormier (Rochester, N.H.) gave up an RBI double to right center.
The Hawks would take back the lead, however, in the fourth, as Olivia Story (Middleton, Mass.) led off the inning with a single through the left side. With one out, Byrne hit an RBI single into center, scoring Story. Saint Anselm earned its final run when Byrne crossed the plate on a Galavotti hit to the shortstop.
Cormier, who earned the win, held UMass Lowell to one earned run and gave up eight hits over seven innings pitched.
The Hawks return to action Tuesday, April 16 at 5 p.m. when they travel to Southern New Hampshire for a single game. Stay up-to-date with the latest news, including game previews and recaps, directly from the Saint Anselm College athletic department by liking us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/STAHawks) and following us on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/STAHawks).
