MANCHESTER, N.H. – A sixth inning homerun was the difference in a 1-0 decision as the Southern New Hampshire softball team was defeated by UMass Lowell by a score of 1-0 in a Northeast-10 Conference game Friday evening. The Penmen are now 27-14 and 14-5 in league play while the River Hawks are now 26-18 and 15-3-1 in the conference.

With no runs and a combined five hits through five innings, the River Hawks scored the only run of the game in the top of the sixth when Abby Jamieson hit a shot to center field to take a 1-0 lead into the final inning.

UMass Lowell retired SNHU in the seventh to win the game by a one run margin.

The Penmen had their best opportunities to score in the bottom of the second after Kelsea Cheney (Abington, Mass.) reached on a single to left field, and advanced to third on a Cara Daly (Plainville, Mass.) single to center field, but SNHU ran out of outs and left two on base.

Southern New Hampshire also had an opportunity in the bottom of the fifth when Nicole Newell (Abington, Mass.) doubled off the left field wall, and a River Hawks error advanced Natalie Metta (Norwood, Mass.), who pinch ran for Newell, to third. But once again, the Penmen could not convert and left two on base heading into the sixth.

Ali Maloof (Norwood, Mass.) pitched a complete game for SNHU with 11 strikeouts, allowing three hits, and one run, while Marielle Handley earned the win for UMass Lowell with three strikeouts, no runs, and giving up three hits.

The Penmen and the River Hawks return to action tomorrow for a doubleheader at 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. on Penmen Field. The winner of the series earns first place in the Northeast division.