WORCESTER, MA (Apr. 24, 2008) – Senior C Julie Brodie (Chelmsford, MA) batted a collective 6 for 6 with four runs and three RBI to lead UMass Lowell over Assumption, 13-7 and 13-1, Thursday in a Northeast-10 Conference softball twin bill at Marois Field.

With the victories, the River Hawks improved to 22-18 overall and 15-5 in the NE-10 entering Friday’s doubleheader at Pace (3:00). Assumption slipped to 12-22 overall and 8-14 in the Conference.

Brodie’s effort was one of several stellar on the day for the River Hawks. Senior 1B Jachael Guanci (Everett, MA) batted 5 for 7 with six RBI and five runs including her fifth and sixth home runs of the season; and junior CF Stacey Lajoie (Gardner, MA) went 4 for 8 with four runs.

In the opener, Brodie went 4 for 4 with two runs and two RBI while Lajoie hit 3 for 5 with three runs to lead the River Hawks. Guanci batted 2 for 4 with three RBI and two runs while senior LF Laurie Tanguay (Lowell, MA) hit 2 for 5 with three RBI and two runs.

Sophomore P Lindsay Farmer (Kingston, NH) improved to 10-9 as she scattered 15 hits, seven runs (six earned) and no walks while striking out one in eight innings. Senior Lauren Symonick took the loss for the Greyhounds, allowing 14 hits, 13 runs (five earned) and two walks while striking out four.

UML erupted for seven runs in the top of the eighth inning for the win. Sophomore 3B Heather Ross (Waltham, MA) sparked the rally with a two-run double while Brodie followed with a two-run single. After Tanguay reached on a fielder’s choice, Guanci smacked a two-run shot to centerfield.

The Greyhounds pulled one back in the bottom half when senior LH Sarah Helm scored on a fielder’s choice, but could creep no closer. Freshman SS Marissa Palumbo led the Greyhounds, batting 4 for 5 with a run.

In the nightcap, Guanci batted 3 for 3 with three runs and three RBI while Brodie went 2 for 2 with two runs and one RBI as the River Hawks led 13-1 by the fifth inning to claim their sixth victory this season by mercy rule.

Freshman SS Stephanie Rollo (Dracut, MA) batted 2 for 3 with three RBI and two runs while sophomore LF Jillian McAllister (Lowell, MA) went 2 for 3 with one run.

Freshman P Nicole Monroe (Townsend, MA) improved to 7-3 as she allowed four hits, no runs and no walks while striking out two. Junior P Heather Brothers took the loss for Assumption as she scattered eight hits, eight runs (seven earned) and one walk while striking out three, slipping to 2-4.

UML jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning behind Guanci’s two-run home run to centerfield. The River Hawks then erupted for six runs in the third inning and five in the fourth to put the game out of reach.

Brodie and Tanguay sparked the third inning rally with RBI doubles while Rollo had an RBI single and freshman LF Hannah May (Hardwick, MA) an RBI double. In the fourth inning, Guanci had an RBI double and Rollo belted her first collegiate home run, a two-run shot to left center.

Helm and sophomore CF Mary Hancock each batted 1 for 2 to lead Assumption.