LOWELL, MA (Apr. 15, 2008) – Senior LF Laurie Tanguay (Lowell, MA) batted a collective 4 for 7 and belted a walk-off home run in the eighth inning of the nightcap to lead UMass Lowell to a sweep of Merrimack, 2-1 and 2-1, Tuesday in a Northeast-10 Conference softball twin bill at River View Field.

The victories extended UML’s win streak to five games entering Wednesday’s non-conference doubleheader against New Haven (River View Field, 3:00). UML, winner of eight of its last 10 games, improved to 17-11 overall and 11-3 in the NE-10.

Merrimack slipped to 5-15 overall and 5-9 in the conference.

Senior 1B Jachael Guanci (Everett, MA) collectively batted 3 for 5 while freshman RF Hannah May (Hardwick, MA) went 3 for 6 with a run.

In the opener, UML jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning when sophomore 3B Heather Ross (Waltham, MA) reached on an error, stole second and reached home on an errant pick off attempt.

The River Hawks added another run in the fifth when Tanguay singled to left field to score sophomore 2B Katie Hebert (Lowell, MA), on what proved to be the game-winning run. Hebert had singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Guanci.

Tanguay and May each batted 2 for 3 with one RBI while Hebert went 1 for 2 with a run.

Junior DH Felicia Astorino (Virginia Beach, VA) led the Warriors, hitting 2 for 3, while junior 1B Jill Gagnon (Manchester, NH) batted 1 for 2 with a solo home run in the sixth inning.

Sophomore P Lindsay Farmer (Kingston, NH) improved to 8-5 as she allowed six hits, one earned run and a walk while striking out three. Junior P Vicky Cotter (Hampton, NH) slipped to 2-4 as she scattered seven hits, two runs (one earned) and one walk while striking out three.

In the nightcap, Tanguay led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a home run over the right field fence for the win. The River Hawks knotted the score 1-1 in the sixth when a sacrifice fly by freshman SS Stephanie Rollo (Dracut, MA) scored junior CF Stacey Lajoie (Gardner, MA).

UML had a golden opportunity for the win in the seventh when May singled and advanced all the way to third on a sacrifice bunt by senior C Julie Brodie (Chelmsford, MA). Merrimack, however, escaped the inning behind a strikeout to Hebert and a flyout to left field by Guanci.

The Warriors opened the scoring in the fourth inning when freshman SS Kristen Lemay (Shrewsbury, MA) singled home sophomore CF Emily Cummings (Andover, MA).

Tanguay batted 2 for 4 with her fourth home run of the year while Guanci also went 2 for 4. Lajoie drew a pair of walks and scored a run.

Freshman P Nicole Monroe (Townsend, MA) hurled a three-hitter with no walks while striking out six. Monroe retired 12 of 13 batters over the final four innings to improve to 4-1. Gagnon took the hard-luck loss as she surrendered six hits, two runs (earned) and three walks while striking out four.