LOWELL, Mass. — The UMass Lowell softball team (24–22, 11–7 AE) fell just short in a 4–3 loss to UAlbany (21–18, 10–7 AE) in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at River View Field.
Junior Isabel Quintanilla (Puyallup, Wash.) powered the River Hawks offensively, driving in all three runs on the day, while junior Olivia DeCitise (Troy, N.Y.) went the distance in the circle, allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits with two strikeouts.
UAlbany struck first in the opening inning with a solo home run, but the River Hawks answered immediately in the bottom half. After working runners into scoring position, Quintanilla delivered a two-run double to left field to give Lowell an early 2–1 advantage.
The Great Danes evened the score in the third with an RBI single, but Lowell responded once again. Sophomore Thyanais Santiago (Methuen, Mass.) sparked the inning with a double to right center, and Quintanilla followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home junior Elizabeth Neeld (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.), restoring a 3–2 lead.
DeCitise settled in from there, keeping UAlbany off the board through the middle innings and limiting traffic with efficient work in the circle.
The game shifted in the seventh, as UAlbany capitalized on a pair of baserunners and used a two-run double to take a 4–3 lead.
Lowell looked to answer in the bottom half, but UAlbany retired the side to seal the one-run decision.
Quintanilla (1-for-2, 3 RBI) led the River Hawks at the plate, while Santiago and freshman Julia Rowley (Beacon Falls, Conn.) each added a hit. Lowell worked six walks in the game but was limited to four hits overall.
Up Next
The River Hawks wrap up the regular season next weekend at Binghamton.
