March 14, 2009
Box Score
CLERMONT, FL– The Emerson College softball pitching staff allowed only one run, while the offense collected 11 hits in a 9-1 victory over the University of Massachusetts Boston Softball team this morning in Clermont, FL. The game was the Beacons first of the 2009 campaign, while the win improves the Lions' record to 6-4.
Making her collegiate debut, UMass Boston starting pitcher Kara Willis (Burrillville, RI) got into trouble in the first inning allowing three hits and three runs fueled by a two-run double by Emerson catcher Christina Naramore (Asmissville, VA). Two of the three runs allowed in the frame were unearned, but it was all the Lions would need to pick up the win.
The Beacons had trouble early connecting on anything thrown by the winning pitcher, freshman south-paw pitcher Sara Murray (Auburn, NH), but notched its first hit of the contest with a one-out single by freshman catcher Lisa Polsonetti (Revere, MA), the first hit of her collegiate career.
In the bottom of the second, Emerson struck for two more runs off Willis when senior shortstop Catie McDonough (North Adams, MA) drilled a one-out single to right-center field to plate the Lions fourth and fifth runs on the day.
UMass Boston threatened in top of the third loading the bases with one out. Junior right fielder Amanda Cianciulli (Billerica, MA) started off the inning with a slap single, and two batters later sophomore left fielder Christina Polsonetti (Revere, MA) followed it up with another infield single to third. Senior third baseman Lauren O'Connor (Everett, MA) reached on an error by McDonough to load the bases for senior center fielder Jenn Widener (Hyde Park, MA) in the cleanup spot, but Murray was able to force a comebacker which she tossed to home plate for the force and then retired sophomore second basemen Leigh Hammontree (Westport, MA) with a fly out to centerfield, stranding them loaded.
Some nifty fielding helped the Beacons pick up its first one-two-three inning of the year in a non-conventional way. Willis walked freshman first basemen Kendal Peiguss (Suquamish, WA) to start off the frame and allowed her to reach second on a wild pitch to the next batter, senior left fielder Bri Papa (Camilus, NY). Papa would ground out to short and the Beacons would look back Peiguss to hold her at the middle bag with one down. Junior second basemen Jill Vallecorsa (Latham, NY) then hit a hard grounder to Hammontree at second, which she was able to handle and toss over to senior first basemen Leanne Meninger (Everett, MA) for the second out of the inning. Peiguss tried to advance to third on the throw but Meninger pegged a bullet to O'Connor at third for the third out and inning ending double-play.
The Beacons used the play as an energizer and came out in the top of the fourth collecting three more singles to load the bases for the second time in as many innings, but again Murray was able to work her way out of the jam by striking out C. Polsonetti with a solid rise pitch.
Emerson made it a 7-0 ballgame when it plated two runs in the bottom of the fourth, fueled by two-run double to deep right-center field by freshman DH Kelsey Tuthill (Middlefield, CT).
UMass Boston would get on the board in the fifth, collected three more singles, to load the bases for the third straight inning. Sophomore DH Ellisa LaRoche (Westford, MA) drove in her first career RBI, ripping a single down the left field line to plate O'Connor for the Beacons lone run of the morning.
The Lions ended the game midway through the sixth frame, collecting its final two runs on a one-out 2 RBI double to right-center field by Peiguss that made the score 9-1, ending the contest early.
The Beacons will be back in action tomorrow when it faces Westfield State College at 9:00am and Bethany College (WV) at 1:00pm., while Emerson wrapped up its spring trip and will be dormant until next weekend when it hosts St. Josephs College (ME) in a double header on March 21 at Rotch Playground Field in Boston, MA.
