UMass Lowell Women's Softball Wins on a Walk-off HR

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On Saturday afternoon at River View Field, the UMass Lowell women’s softball team showed toughness and fight in their victory over Bryant College. The 7–5 win featured a walk‑off home run from Madi Wade, allowing UML to salvage the final game of the weekend series. The benefactor of the offensive support was senior pitcher Gianna LaCedra, who came out of the River Hawks’ pen to throw an inning and a third of scoreless softball to record her fourth win of the season against eight losses.

UMass Lowell (17–17, 5–4) started the scoring in the very first inning. Elizabeth Neeld delivered an RBI single to right that scored Emily Baumes, who led off the inning with an infield hit and advanced to second on a throwing error. 1–0 Lowell. The inning could have been bigger for the River Hawks, but they left the bases loaded. The Bulldogs (13–16, 7–2) tied the game in the second on a leadoff home run from Gabriella Gesualdo (2‑for‑3, 1 RBI, 2 RS) off UML starter Ella Van Alstyne. 1–1 game. Van Alstyne (3‑for‑4, 2 RBI, 2 RS) would atone for her pitching mistake by hitting a two‑run home run off Bryant reliever Maddy Wachter. The River Hawks led 3–1 after two innings.

The ball was jumping out of River View Field on Saturday, as the teams combined for five home runs. Bryce Clendenin brought the Bulldogs within one at 3–2 with a home run in the top of the fourth. It stayed that way until the top of the sixth, when Bryant took its first lead of the game. The rally started with a leadoff triple by Arianna Williams to right field. One batter later, she scored the tying run on a groundout by Jaden McKenna. Now it was a 3–3 game. With the game tied, the River Hawks coaching staff made a change in the circle. LaCedra came on in relief of Van Alstyne. The first batter she faced doubled to left‑center to put runners at second and third. After a groundout back to the pitcher by Alana Garcia, Amira Garcia produced an infield single to short that scored both runners, giving Bryant a 5–3 lead.

The River Hawks came right back in their half of the sixth. With one out, Neeld singled to left for her second hit of the game. The next batter, Julia Rowley, tied the game with a two‑run home run. 5–5 after six. LaCedra set down the Bulldogs in order in the top of the seventh, setting up a possible walk‑off opportunity for UMass Lowell. With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Van Alstyne singled to center field. The next batter, Thyanalis Santiago, popped out to shortstop, setting the stage for Madi Wade. On a 1–1 pitch, Wade lifted one over the wall in left‑center for a walk‑off two‑run home run off Wachter (7–4), sending the home crowd away happy as the River Hawks came from behind to take a 7–5 win over Bryant College.

Next up for the River Hawks is a midweek doubleheader at Rhode Island before they head to Orono, Maine, for a conference weekend against the Black Bears.