Box Score

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LOWELL, Mass. - Highlighted by junior Melanie Russell's eight strikeouts and a pair of doubles that keyed a six-run fourth inning, the Boston University softball team claimed a 7-6 victory at UMass Lowell on Tuesday evening.

Seven different individuals reached home plate with four combining for seven RBIs to help the Terriers improve to 8-20, while the River Hawks fell to 10-18 despite Vanessa Cooper hitting a grand slam.

Sophomore Brittany Younan almost had one of her own in the fourth, but her hard hit bounced off the top of the fence's cushioning and fell back into play for a bases-clearing double. Senior Mandy Fernandez delivered the other critical double earlier in the inning to break a 1-1 deadlock and give BU the lead for good.

With a depleted pitching staff, Russell (2-4) threw 127 pitches and battled her way to her second win of the season, throwing eight strikeouts against eight walks and seven hits allowed. Erica Armenti (3-9) lasted just 3.1 innings for the loss, as she allowed six runs off seven hits.

BU jumped on the scoreboard first in the top of the third when senior Kendra Meadows singled to short, stole second, advanced to third on the catcher's throwing error and reached home on sophomore Moriah Connolly's RBI single. The River Hawks came right back to tie the game on Cooper's two-out RBI double.

The Terriers quickly regained the lead in the top of the fourth. After junior Lauren Hynes singled and senior Emily Felbaum walked, Fernandez delivered a hard-hit double into left center for the 3-1 advantage. She later scored on freshman Jilee Schanda's single. After Connolly's single and freshman Emma Wong's walk, Younan cleared the bases with a double for the 7-1 advantage.

UML had a great opportunity to cut into the lead in the fifth, loading the bases with one out on a pair of singles and walk. However, Russell recorded two strikeouts to get out of the jam. 

The River Hawks came back though in the sixth with five runs off three hits and two walks to cut the deficit to one. After Russell allowed the grand slam to Cooper, head coach Kathryn Gleason pulled Fernandez out of left field and had her warm up due to the depleted staff. Fernandez had not pitched this season but her presence would not be required, as Russell induced a pop up to short for the final out of the inning.

Russell showed resolve in the seventh, responding to a one-out walk with an infield pop up and strikeout to seal the victory. 

With their second true road win of the season, the Terriers will next visit crosstown rival Boston College on Wednesday (April 8) at 4 p.m