April 4, 2009
Box Score
BOSTON, MA - Sophomore pitcher Ashley Puls (West Springfield, MA) hit the eventual game-winning triple to give the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth softball team a doubleheader sweep over host University of Massachusetts Boston today, by identical scores of 3-2 in both games at the Clark Athletic Center field on the campus of UMass Boston. The Beacons fall to 6-14 overall and 0-4 in LEC play, while the Corsairs improve to 5-9 and 2-2.
UMass Dartmouth did all of its scoring with single runs in each of the first three innings. The visitors got on the board in the top of the first when sophomore center fielder Michelle Conway (Burrillville, RI) led off with a single to right field, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior shortstop Vicki Andruszkiewicz (Dnavers, MA) and later scored on a single through the left side by junior third baseman Emily Surprenant (Attleboro, MA) to give the Corsairs a 1-0 edge. UMass Boston matched the run in the bottom of the frame when senior third baseman Lauren O'Connor (Everett, MA) cracked a two-out double to right field, stole third base and scored on a single to right field off the bat of senior designated player Courtney Haroules (Littleton, MA) to knot the game at 1-1. UMass Dartmouth reclaimed the lead in the second when sophomore right fielder Jessica Falzone (Revere, MA) smacked a two-out single up the middle from the nine hole in the order and came around to score on a double to left center by Conway for a 2-1 edge. The Corsairs increased their lead to 3-1 in the third when sophomore Desiree Sousa (Swansea, MA) sent a bases loaded run-scoring single to left field, but it would be all the runs they would get as the inning ended on a put out at the plate with freshman catcher Hannah Rounds (Lincoln, RI) trying to score on a wild pitch, but was called out.
The Beacons rallied for a run in the fourth when senior Jenn Widener (Hyde Park, MA) reached on an error on a fly ball to center that was pushed around by high winds and ended up on second base, where sophomore second baseman Leigh Hammontree (Westport, MA) drove her home on a double down the right field line to pull UMB to within 3-2. Hammontree moved to third on a passed ball, where she remained on a fielder's choice by junior right fielder Amanda Cianciulli (Billerica, MA). With runners on the corners, Hammontree tried to score on the back end of a double steal, but was thrown out after the throw to second was cut off and returned to home to prevent the tying run.
Freshman Brittany Eldridge (Raynham, MA) (3-3) earned the complete game victory for UMass Dartmouth, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits and a walk, while striking out three in seven innings. Freshman hurler Kara Willis (Burrillville, RI) suffered the loss for UMass Boston, yielding three runs on seven hits and seven walks in addition to six strikeouts in seven innings.
Freshman pinch-hitter Tracie Calvert (Sandwich, MA) was hit by a pitch with one out in the top of the seventh inning of the second game, before Puls hit a fly ball to right center field that dropped in when the UMB center fielder and right fielder collided while trying to make the put out. Puls ended up on third base with a triple, while the run scored to give the Corsairs a 3-2 edge. The Beacons were unable to score in their half of the seventh.
UMass Boston took a 2-0 lead in the fourth when O'Connor raked a leadoff double to center field and moved to third on a single to left by Haroules. Sophomore first baseman Elisa LaRoche (Westford, MA) put the Beacons on the board with a single to center and Hammontree later knocked in the second run with a sacrifice fly to right field. Willis kept UMass Dartmouth off the board until the sixth inning after five and a third innings of no-hit ball, but the visitors loaded the bases with one out and Eldridge came through with the Corsairs' first hit of the game to drive in a run and cut the deficit to 2-1. Rounds followed with a ground out to first to bring home the game-tying score to make it 2-2.
Puls (1-3) earned the win in relief for UMD, throwing four innings of two-hit shutout ball, while walking three and striking out two. Willis (6-11) was charged with the loss after giving up three runs on just two hits and six walks to go with a strikeout in seven innings of work for UMB.
Falzone, Eldridge and Conway each collected a pair of hits on the day for UMass Dartmouth, while Falzone and Conway each scored a pair of runs as well. O'Connor led the Beacons, going 4-7 with two doubles and two runs, while Hammontree was 2-5 with a double and two RBI.
UMass Boston will be in action again on Monday, April 6 when they host Mount Ida College in a doubleheader at 3:00 p.m. at the Clark Athletic Center, while the Corsairs travel to Framingham, MA on Tuesday, April 7 to take on Framingham State College at 3:00 p.m.
