LOWELL, MA (Apr. 1, 2008) – Senior 1B Jachael Guanci (Everett, MA) batted 5 for 7 with six runs and five RBI while sophomore P Lindsay Farmer (Kingston, NH) pitched her second straight two-hit shutout as UMass Lowell defeated Franklin Pierce, 8-0 and 12-7 Tuesday afternoon in a Northeast-10 Conference softball doubleheader at River View Field.

With the wins, UML improved to 6-7 overall and 3-1 in the NE-10 entering Wednesday’s twin bill at Bentley (3:00). The Ravens slipped to 1-13 overall and 0-4 in the Conference and visit Stonehill Thursday at 3:30.

In the opener, senior C Julie Brodie (Chelmsford, MA) batted 3 for 4 with two runs and one RBI as UML uncorked 11 hits in the five-inning game. Freshman DH Hilary Hopkins (Poway, CA) went 2 for 3 with three RBI and one run while senior LF Laurie Tanguay (Lowell, MA) went 2 for 3 with two runs and two RBI.

Guanci and Farmer each batted 1 for 3 with one RBI. In addition to limiting the Ravens to just two hits, Farmer also allowed three walks while striking out one to improve to 3-3.

Junior P Courtney Jacobs (Fitchburg, MA) scattered nine hits, seven runs (five earned), one walk and one strikeout and slipped to 0-4. Junior SS Elaine Matthews (Roslindale, MA) and senior C Kate Surgen (Southampton, MA) each had one hit for FPU.

The River Hawks erupted for four runs in the first inning and never looked back as Hopkins highlighted the inning with a two-run single. Guanci and Tanguay also had RBI hits to set Hopkins’ outburst.

UML added two runs in the third by way of an RBI double by Hopkins and an RBI single by Farmer. Brodie scored off a single by Tanguay in the fourth, and hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth to score sophomore 2B Katie Hebert (Lowell, MA) and end the game.

In the nightcap, Guanci went 4 for 4 with four runs, four RBI and two home runs as UML uncorked 16 hits. Freshman RF Hannah May (Hardwick, MA) went 3 for 4 with three runs while Tanguay batted 2 for 4 with two RBI, two runs and her first home run of the year.  Junior C Stacey Lajoie (Gardner, MA) hit 2 for 3 with one run and one RBI.

Freshman P Nicole Monroe (Townsend, MA) improved to 2-0 as she scattered two hits, two runs (both unearned) and one walk while striking out seven in five innings. Freshman Kayla Johnson (Hudson, NH) took the loss for FPU as she scattered 12 hits, 10 runs (eight earned), two walks and three strikeouts in 3.2 innings to slip to 1-3.

Freshman 3B Erin Clark (Fort Ann, NY) led the Ravens, hitting 2 for 3 with one run.

The River Hawks broke a 6-6 tie in the third inning behind a bunt single by May, who reached home on consecutive throwing errors. UML added three runs in the fourth, highlighted by a two-run shot by Tanguay and an RBI double by Monroe.