ROTTERDAM, NY – The College of Saint Rose scored a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth to rally from a 2-0 deficit en route to a 3-2 victory against visiting UMass Lowell in the opener of a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader today. The River Hawks (6-27-1/5-14-1 NE-10) then scored in every inning, but the fifth to take the nightcap 8-4 at Esposito Field.

Saint Rose (9-21/5-15 NE-10) opened the sixth with three consecutive walks to load the bases and senior left fielder Kerry Monahan produced a sacrifice fly that tied the score 2-2. One batter later, junior Lauren Ruggerio drove an RBI pinch hit, single up the middle that brought around senior catcher Amanda Morano with the eventual winning run.

In the fifth, sophomore right fielder Megan Rios belted an RBI base hit to center that cut the 2-0 Saint Rose deficit in half.

Senior right-hander Nicole Welch retired the final 10 UMass Lowell batters in order to collect her fifth victory of the year. Welch allowed only an earned run on five hits and fanned eight without issuing a walk over the distance. Monahan finished 2-for-2 to lead the Saint Rose offense.

The Golden Knights battled back from a 4-0 deficit in the finale by scoring three times in the third when they sent nine batters to the plate. Senior shortstop Ashley Anderson doubled to center to drive in the first run. Senior center fielder Jaime Clark then scored on a wild pitch and Morano slapped a run scoring single through the right side that made it a 4-3 ballgame.

However, UMass Lowell added a run in the fourth, two more in the sixth and another in the seventh; before Morano homered over the center field fence with two down in the bottom of the seventh to account for the final margin.

Morano wound up 4-for-4 with two RBI to lead the Saint Rose charge. Meanwhile, UMass Lowell freshman right-hander Marissa Fiorentino surrendered a run on a pair of hits and fanned three throughout 4.0 innings of relief to collect the second victory of her young collegiate career.

Both teams have league games on tap for tomorrow. The Golden Knights are scheduled to play their home finale with a noon doubleheader versus Franklin Pierce. Meanwhile, UMass Lowell continues its trek west on the New York Thruway for a noon date at Le Moyne in Syracuse.

Box Score - Game 1; Box Score - Game 2