LOWELL, MA – Freshman third baseman Ali Ferraro broke a 2-2 tie with a solo home run in the fourth and host UMass Lowell held The College of Saint Rose softball team scoreless the rest of the way to take a 6-2 triumph in the opener of a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader today at River View Field. The River Hawks received a pair of solid pitching performances in the nightcap on the way to a 6-1 victory.

The Golden Knights (7-24/3-17 NE-10) grabbed a 2-1 lead following a costly UMass Lowell error in the third. Sophomore right fielder Steph Luce, freshman center fielder Amber Loussedes and freshman first baseman Valerie Nelson each singled to load the bases. Luce and Loussedes came across on the aforementioned miscue, but Saint Rose stranded two runners to close out the frame.

In the bottom half, junior catcher Lindsi Panarelli led things off with a homer to even things 2-2. Ferraro followed with her solo shot in the fourth and then struck again with a two-run blast in the sixth to put UMass Lowell in front for good.

Luce wound up 1-for-2, scored a run and was hit by a pitch to lead the Golden Knights. Loussedes and Nelson each finished 1-for-4 as well. Ferraro was a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs to pace the River Hawks.

In game two, senior right-hander Rachel Schafler and junior right-hander Elyssa Boris surrendered just an earned run to keep the Saint Rose bats at bay. Schafler allowed just a bunt single by senior right-hander Nicole Traylor throughout 3.0 innings. Boris yielded just three hits over the final 4.0 innings in relief to pick up her team-leading 15th victory of the year.

Traylor wound up 2-for-3 with a run and a double. Freshman left fielder Olivia Reeves finished 1-for-2 and Luce knocked in the lone run of the contest for Saint Rose.

Senior first baseman Heather Ross led the way for UMass Lowell. Ross went 3-for-4 with a triple and five RBI.

The Golden Knights had tomorrow's league twin-bill at Merrimack College postponed. They will be idle until Tuesday when they head to upstate rival Le Moyne College for a 3:00 pm doubleheader. The River Hawks are scheduled to entertain the Dolphins tomorrow morning at 8:30 am in an effort to beat the rain.

Box Score - Game 1; Box Score - Game 2