BOSTON - UMBC and UMass Lowell each started their 2015 softball seasons in Florida over the weekend. The River Hawks went 2-2 with wins over Bethune Cookman and Army while the Retrievers dropped all four contests. Read about weekly award winners and league notes below: Player of the WeekAlyssa Zinkiewicz, UMass Lowell - Jr., DP, Massapequa, N.Y.
- Led the team at the plate, hitting .500 (6-12) with three doubles and four RBI in four games last week.
- Slugged .750 and had a .538 on base percentage.
- Went 5-for-8 with all four RBI and all three doubles in UMass Lowell's two wins.
Pitcher of the Week
Erica Armenti, UMass Lowell - So., P, Shrewsbury, Mass.
- Went 1-1 in the circle with a 2.80 ERA in 10 innings pitched.
- Allowed just one run and on two hits to earn the win vs. Army.
Rookie of the Week Vanessa Cooper, UMass Lowell - Fr., 1B, Pleasant Gap, Pa.
- Went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored in the win over Army.
- Clubbed her first career home run against the Black Knights.
Notes
- UMass Lowell went 2-2 in its opening games of the 2015 season.
- The River Hawks beat Bethune Cookman, 6-2, on Friday and Army, 13-8, on Sunday.
- UMBC also opened last weekend, dropping all four of its games.
- Stony Brook, last year's regular-season champion, was tabbed first the America East preseason coaches' poll.
- Binghamton and Maine start their seasons Friday.
Weekly Award Winners
Feb. 9 - Player of the Week: Alyssa Zinkiewicz, UMass Lowell; Pitcher of the Week: Erica Armenti, UMass Lowell; Rookie of the Week: Vanessa Cooper, UMass Lowell