ALBANY, N.Y. -- Albany played its final regular-season home game of the year on Sunday, defeating conference newcomer Massachusetts-Lowell (9-34, 1-13), and earning a three-game sweep of the River Hawks. The game was called in the bottom of the fifth inning after UAlbany (25-10, 11-3) took a 9-0 lead.
Brittany MacFawn (14-5) started the game on the mound for UAlbany, her second start of this series. In her final time on the mound at Albany Field, MacFawn worked a no-hitter, pitching 5.0 innings, striking out six and walking three. Jess Tate, playing first base, provided the spark on the offensive end, hitting two home runs with five RBI.
Vicky McFarland led off the game with a double to left center. Kelly Costello followed with a walk. Both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Maggie Cocks. After Elizabeth Snow flied out to right, Charlise Castro hit a single up the middle, driving in both McFarland and Costello, giving UAlbany a 2-0 lead. Castro then stole second, and was driven in when Marlin Solano hit a single to left.
The Danes loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the second inning, only to have Snow fly out in foul territory to UMass-Lowell’s first baseman. Leading off the bottom of the third, Castro hit a home run to center field in the first at-bat against the River Hawks’ new pitcher. Solano then grounded out to second, before Lauren Alcorn worked a walk and Caitlin Cooper hit a single through the left side. Tate came up and hit her first home run of the game, giving UAlbany a 7-0 lead.
After a scoreless fourth inning, UAlbany scored two more runs in the bottom of the fifth off of UMass-Lowell’s third pitcher of the game. Cooper led off the inning after her at-bat in the bottom of the fourth was left incomplete when Solano was called out for leaving second base early. Cooper worked a leadoff walk, bring Tate to the plate. Tate hit a home run in her second consecutive at-bat, ending the game for the Danes 9-0.
In the nine spot in the lineup, Tate hit 3-for-3 with two home runs, two runs scored, five RBI, and one double. Castro hit 2-for-3 with two runs scored, three RBI and a stolen base. Costello hit 2-for-2 with a walk, one run scored, and one stolen base. Solano hit 2-for-3 with one RBI.
