LOWELL, MA (Apr. 15, 2008) – Freshman P Nicole Monroe (Townsend, MA) improved to 5-1 as UMass Lowell salvaged a split with New Haven, dropping the first game 9-1, but winning the nightcap, 2-0, Wednesday in a non-conference twin bill at River View Field.

With the split, UML stands at 18-12 overall entering Thursday’s crucial doubleheader at Bryant (3:00). New Haven is currently 16-16.

In the opener, New Haven scored three runs in the first inning and never looked back as junior C Jordanna Borska (Commack, NY), senior P Meg Brown (Schenectady, NY) and freshman DH Sam Minvervini (Nutley, NJ) each had RBI singles to lead the way for the Chargers.

UML pulled one back in the fourth inning off a sacrifice fly from junior CF Stacey Lajoie (Gardner, MA), but the Chargers added one in the sixth when freshman 2B Courtney Garland (East Meadow, NY) doubled and scored on a groundout.

New Haven erupted for four more runs in the seventh, highlighted by a two-run single by Garland, to grab a 9-1 lead.

Minervini batted 3 for 4 with one run and one RBI while Garland went 2 for 3 with two runs and two RBI. Sophomore 1B Meghan Walter (Bay Shore, NY) batted 2 for 4 with two RBI and sophomore RF Breanne Gleason (Bristol, CT) went 2 for 4 with one run and one RBI.

Freshman 3B Hilary Hopkins (Poway, CA) led UML, hitting 2 for 3, while Lajoie batted 1 for 2 with a run.

Brown earned the win for New Haven, scattering five hits, two walks and one earned run while striking out seven to improve to 8-6. Sophomore Lindsay Farmer (Kingston, NH) took the loss, allowing 15 hits, nine runs (eight earned) and three walks while striking out four to slip to 8-6.

In the nightcap, the River Hawks mustered just two hits, but took advantage of a throwing error with two out in the sixth inning to score two runs and eke out the win. Monroe allowed seven hits and no walks while striking out two in her first career shutout.

Gleason took the hard-luck loss despite pitching a gem, giving up two hits, two unearned runs and three walks while striking out four to slip to 7-9.

Walter and sophomore SS Nicole Downs (Seymour, CT) each batted 2 for 3 to lead New Haven.

With two out in the sixth inning, sophomore 3B Heather Ross (Waltham, MA) singled and freshman SS Stephanie Rollo (Dracut, MA) was hit by a pitch. Freshman Emily Wolf (Salem, NH), pinch hitting for sophomore RF Gina Angelone (Kingston, NH), reached first on a throwing error, enabling Ross and Rollo to score.