KISSIMMEE, FL (Mar. 16, 2008) – Junior Stacey Lajoie (Gardner, MA) batted 3 for 5 as UMass Lowell endured losses to Georgian Court University (6-1) and Tiffin University (17-4) Sunday in a pair of non-conference softball clashes at the Rebel Spring Games.

The River Hawks (0-2) return to action Monday against Holy Family University (11:00) and No. 7 Nebraska-Omaha (3:00).

In the opener, GCU erupted for five runs in the third inning and never looked back en route to the 6-1 victory. Junior Mallory Kirchner, who batted 3 for 3 with three RBI, a walk and two singles, highlighted the inning with a bases-loaded triple.

UML pulled one run back in the fifth when Lajoie singled and eventually scored on a single by freshman Hilary Hopkins (Poway, CA). Lajoie led UML, hitting 2 for 3 with one run and a single.

Sophomore Lindsay Farmer (Kingston, NH) took the loss as she scattered six hits, five runs (four earned) and a walk while striking out three. Junior Samantha Sasko earned the win to improve to 2-0.

In the nightcap, Tiffin emerged from a 7-4 lead with 10 runs in the fifth inning to prevail 17-4.

UML trailed 7-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning, but inched closer with two runs. Senior Laurie Tanguay (Lowell, MA) bunted and reached second on a throwing error to score freshman Hannah May (Hardwick, MA) and freshman Stephanie Rollo (Dracut, MA) hit a sacrifice fly to score senior Julie Brodie (Chelmsford, MA).

The Dragons capitalized on three errors in the fifth inning en route to its 10-run outburst. Sophomore Stacey Lucas batted 2 for 3 with three RBI, one run and a double to lead Tiffin.

Lajoie hit 1 for 2 with a walk and one RBI while Tanguay hit 1 for 3 with an RBI double. Brodie scored two runs and was hit by a pitch three times.

Sophomore Katie Hebert (Lowell, MA) suffered the loss as she scattered seven unearned runs, four walks, four hits and a strikeout over four innings. Freshman Kellie Kitchen earned the win to improve to 2-0.