The UMass Lowell River Hawks and Hartford Hawks both took to the diamond on March 25, 2026, but their fortunes could not have been more different as each program faced pivotal early-season matchups. While UMass Lowell baseball stumbled in its home opener against Northeastern, Hartford softball soared in a doubleheader sweep over Curry College, with both squads showcasing moments of grit and determination that will shape their seasons ahead.
At Edward A. LeLacheur Park in Lowell, Massachusetts, the River Hawks baseball team (8-13, 1-2 America East) were looking to build momentum in their first home appearance of the season. Unfortunately for the home crowd, Northeastern (13-10) proved too much, handing UMass Lowell a tough 6-0 defeat. The Huskies capitalized on River Hawk miscues and timely hitting, while Lowell’s bats remained mostly silent despite flashes of promise.
Senior Carlos Martinez was a bright spot for the River Hawks, lacing a double to spark a potential rally in the fifth inning. Freshman Cal Chance, junior Scott Donahue, and senior Joseph DeLanzo each chipped in a hit, but the offense stalled when it mattered most. "I felt like today we played really timid," head coach Nick Barese admitted after the game. "It almost looked like we were afraid to make any mistake, which that's hence why you saw on eight on the error number. When you tend to play passive like that, it's when you make mistakes defensively."
The contest started with promise for UMass Lowell. Freshman Christopher Klueber took the mound and showed poise, allowing just one run on four hits over 3.2 innings, striking out one. He navigated out of a bases-loaded jam in the third, keeping the Huskies within reach. Relief efforts from freshman Josh Doney and sophomore Jake LeFrancois were equally encouraging, as both tossed hitless innings with a strikeout apiece. Graduate student Frankie DeMaro also made a quick and effective appearance, picking off a runner to end the fourth inning.
But Northeastern’s offense began to click in the middle innings. The Huskies struck first in the second thanks to a sacrifice fly, then tacked on two more in the fifth to stretch their lead to 3-0. A solo home run in the seventh made it 4-0, and two additional runs in the ninth sealed the 6-0 outcome. Despite moving runners into scoring position in the late innings, the River Hawks couldn’t break through against the Huskies’ steady pitching and defense.
Coach Barese was candid about the team’s mindset following the loss. "It felt like a 6-0 lead in the beginning part of the year for us, we've overcome that and been good with that. Today, 6-0 felt like a lot bigger of a mountain to climb. So, the message to the guys after the game is we have to wash this and let it go down the drain, and get ready for a really tough opponent in Maine this weekend." The River Hawks will look to regroup as they prepare for a crucial three-game America East series against Maine, with the opener set for Friday, March 27, at 3 p.m. on their home turf.
Meanwhile, just a short drive away in Milton, Massachusetts, the Hartford Hawks softball team delivered a statement in their conference-opening doubleheader against Curry College. The Hawks emerged victorious in both games, winning a wild opener 10-8 before cruising to a 9-1 mercy-rule win in game two, showcasing both offensive fireworks and clutch pitching performances.
The first game saw Hartford jump out to an early lead thanks to junior Adelie Beebe’s two-run blast in the opening frame. Freshman Alina Weaver added an RBI single in the second, and by the end of the fourth, the Hawks had built an imposing 8-0 advantage. But Curry refused to go quietly, capitalizing on three Hawk errors and a flurry of hits to narrow the gap to just one run. Junior Gracie Hopkins started in the circle for Hartford, pitching 3.2 innings with five strikeouts and four earned runs before giving way to sophomore Ella Zobel.
Zobel was called upon in a tense moment and responded under pressure, ultimately earning the win with 3.1 innings of relief, three strikeouts, and just one earned run. The Colonels tied the game at 8-8 in the fifth, but Hartford’s resilience shone through in the seventh. Sophomore Lucy Lembo led off with a single and came around to score the go-ahead run on a clutch double by sophomore Katrina Baran. Zobel then worked around a pair of singles in the bottom half, sealing the 10-8 victory for the Hawks.
Hartford’s offensive leaders in game one included Beebe, who went three-for-five with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Weaver, Baran, and sophomore Alyssa Edwards each reached base three times and contributed an RBI apiece. The team’s ability to weather Curry’s comeback attempt and respond late set the tone for the rest of the afternoon.
Game two saw the Hawks waste no time, as Baran scored on a wild pitch in the first and Beebe launched another two-run homer—her second of the day—to make it 3-0. Curry managed a run on a sacrifice fly, but Hartford’s bats stayed hot. Beebe struck again in the third with another two-run shot, her third home run of the doubleheader, pushing the lead to 5-1. Senior Carly Mayhood was dominant in the circle, tossing all five innings while allowing just two hits, one run, and striking out seven.
Hartford continued to pile on, with senior Anita Farkash scoring on a wild pitch and junior Sydney Matz driving in another run in the fourth. In the fifth, Baran scored on a sacrifice fly from senior Gia Miccio, and senior Taylor Fitch drove in the mercy rule-clinching run. Mayhood then retired Curry in order to close out the 9-1 win in just five innings.
Beebe’s power display was the story of the day, as she finished with three home runs and multiple RBIs across both games. Key contributions also came from Miccio, Fitch, Farkash, and Matz, each delivering timely hits and RBIs. The Hawks’ pitching staff, led by Zobel and Mayhood, combined for 10 strikeouts and limited Curry’s offense when it mattered most.
With the sweep, Hartford builds momentum heading into their next challenge: a home doubleheader against Wentworth Institute of Technology on Saturday, March 28, with first pitches scheduled for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. at the Hartford Softball Field. Fans can expect more fireworks as the Hawks look to keep their bats hot and their winning ways alive.
As both programs turn the page, UMass Lowell will seek to shake off their early home disappointment and refocus for conference play, while Hartford aims to ride their offensive surge deeper into the season. The coming weekend promises high stakes and plenty of action as these teams continue their journeys on the diamond.