March 16, 2009
Box Score
CLERMONT, FL - Despite allowing four late runs, the Fairleigh Dickinson softball team was able to hang on this morning to defeat UMass Boston, 8-5. Over the first two innings of play, the Devils took advantage of three Beacon errors and plated six runs which proved to be enough for the victory. FDU-Florham improves to a perfect 4-0 on the season while the loss drops UMB down to 1-4.
Freshman center fielder Ronica Sorice (Belleville, NJ) led off the game with a single to left and scored the games' first run two batters later when junior catcher Amy Beideman's (River Vale, NJ) ripped an RBI single up the middle. The Devils pushed across four more runs in the frame, two unearned, to take the early 5-0 lead.
In the top of the second, FDU extended its lead to 7-0 with another unearned run and an RBI single by freshman pinch hitter Alyssa Reale (Riverside, NJ). The game appeared to be out of reach for the Beacons but freshman pitcher Kara Willis (Burrillville, RI) stayed composed and shut down the Devils for the next four innings of action.
Senior center fielder Jenn Widener (Hyde Park, MA) hit a sac fly in the third to knock home the Beacons first run of the game and cut the deficit to 7-1.
FDU freshman pitcher Megan Golembiewski (Beacon, NY) appeared unfazed by the run and retired the Beacons in the fourth and fifth innings to keep the Devils lead at six, but UMass Boston would change that in the sixth frame by scoring three runs on three hits.
Senior third basemen Lauren O'Connor (Everett, MA) led things off with a single to right field and advanced to second on a passed ball. Up next, sophomore DH Elisa LaRoche (Westford, MA) ripped an RBI down the right field line to plate O'Connor and make it a 7-2 ballgame. Freshman catcher Lisa Polsonetti (Revere, MA) kept the hit party going, cracking a one out triple to right center to drive in the second run of the inning. The final run of the frame scored when senior third basemen Brittainy Knight (Buxton, ME) grounded out to Golembiewski but knocked in Polsonetti from third to make it 7-4, FDU-Florham.
The Devils would add an insurance run in the seventh to make it 8-4, but the Beacons answered by adding a run of its own in the bottom half. Sophomore left fielder Christina Polsonetti (Revere, MA) started the rally with her third hit of the contest, a single to center field, and then stole second base to get into scoring position for the heart of the Beacons lineup. Two batters later, Widener connected on a single of her own, putting runners on the corners with one away. Golembiewski remained calm and retired O'Connor on a pop out to second base, but could not retire Beacon second basemen Leigh Hammontree (Westport, MA). The sophomore chopped a ball deep in the hole at short for an infield single, plating Polsonetti to make it 8-5. LaRoche came to the plate representing the tying run but Golembiewski struck her out to end the game. She finished the contest with 11 strike outs.
UMass Boston will be back in action on Wednesday, March 18 when it faces Bethel College at 3:00pm and Pine Manor College at 5:00pm., while FDU plays next vs. Keene State the same day at 9:30am.
