Softball

UMass Lowell & Bryant Survive Day 2 of Northeast Delta Dental #AESB Championship

ORONO, Maine – No. 4 UMass Lowell took down top seeded Bryant in its first game of the championship, but the Bulldogs rebounded to capture a win in the final game of the day and advance to Friday’s action in the 2026 Northeast Delta Dental #AESB Championship.
 
The River Hawk bats came alive early and got an outstanding effort from Olivia DeCitise in the circle to down top seed Bryant 9-2 in the opener.
 
In an elimination game, it was No. 3 UAlbany who did just enough to edge No. 5 Maine by a 3-1 margin. However, the Great Danes were no match for No. 1 Bryant in the nightcap as the Bulldogs scored three in the first and didn’t let up on their way to an 8-0 victory.
 
Unbeaten UMass Lowell will square off against No. 2 Binghamton on Friday at 12 p.m. with the winner headed to the championship game, while the loser will battle No. 1 Bryant at 2:30 p.m. Saturday’s championship is set for 12 p.m.
 
The complete championship schedule, along with links to box scores and highlights can be found at Championship Central. 
 

No. 4 UMass Lowell 9, No. 1 Bryant 2
  • UMass Lowell took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, capitalizing & scoring thanks to a pair of costly errors by Bryant. A solo shot to dead center from Thyanais Santiago then gave UML 2-0 lead.
  • Bryant returned the favor with a two-run home run from Gabriella Gesualdo to tie the game 2-2 in the bottom of the third.
  • Santiago continued her hot hitting with a three-run homer in the fifth. Her second of the game gives the River Hawks a three-run advantage. Julia Rowley and Caroline Calkins also drove in runs to help UML secure a five-run lead through five innings.
  • Pinch hit hero Kate Hardy came through again in the seventh with a two-RBI single, and Olivia DeCitise shut the door to complete the win.
  • DeCitise earned the win with 4.1 innings of relief. She didn’t allow a single hit while walking one batter and striking out five Bulldogs. Rowley, Calkins and Santiago all had two hits apiece for UMass Lowell.
 
No. 3 UAlbany 3, No. 5 Maine 1
  • Francesca Guerrera singled home a run in the top of the first, but a Black Bear was thrown out at third to end the frame.
  • The Great Danes answered in the bottom of the inning with on an RBI single by Mary Kate Murry. UAlbany had the bases loaded with one out, but Maine kept them from scoring again.
  • After a review of a Katie Parisi hit in the second inning, she was ruled safe and drove in a run for the 2-1 lead.
  • Both sides continue to apply pressure but couldn’t capitalize. The Black Bears got out of a bases loaded jam with one out in the fifth, but Parisi doubled home a run in the sixth for the 3-1 UAlbany advantage.
  • Freshman Julia Pike went the distance, giving up just two hits with one earned run and five strikeouts in 7.0 innings. Parisi finished 3-for-4, while Sara Anderson added a pair of hits.
 
No. 1 Bryant 8, No. 3 UAlbany 0
  • The Bulldogs put pressure on UAlbany in the bottom of the first with some impressive small ball. A bunt from Gabriella Gesualdo allowed Jadyn Jenks to score from second and then she stole home to eventually push the lead to 3-0 after one inning
  • Alissa West homered in the fourth to jumpstart a four-run inning, which included a two-run double by Gesualdo for a 7-0 lead.
  • In the fifth, Lexi Powell shut the door in the top of the frame and pinch runner Nea Plisko came around to score on an error in the bottom of the inning to finish off the game 8-0.
  • Gesualdo finished the game with two hits and three RBI, while Jaelynn Lee also added two hits.
  • Lexi Powell gave up just two total hits in the contest with a pair of walks and one strikeout to earn her sixth win of the season.
 
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