March 19, 2010

Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Box Score

CLERMONT, FL - Senior right fielder Amanda Cianciulli (Billerica, MA) went 3-5 with two runs scored and junior center fielder Christina Polsonetti (Revere, MA) went 3-5 with a run scored to lead the University of Massachusetts Boston softball team over Bates College, 7-5, in eight innings this afternoon at Hancock Park in Clermont, FL. In game two versus University of Rochester, junior pitcher Emily Wolf (Salem, NH) hurled a complete game two-hitter to lead the Beacons past the Yellow Jackets, 5-1. With the wins, UMass Boston improves to 5-4 on the season while Bates drops to 1-3 and Rochester falls to 5-7.

After Bates sophomore designated player Leah Maciejewski (Tewksbury, MA) tied the game at 4-4 with a run-scoring single in the bottom of the seventh inning to force extra frames, the Beacons plated three runs in the top of the eighth and held on for the 7-5 victory.

Freshman catcher Sue Killilea (Abington, MA) drove home the go-ahead run with an RBI triple to right center field, driving in Cianciulli to put the Beacons on top 5-4. Killilea crossed the plate on an RBI single by senior second baseman Maria Nasta (Andover, MA), who reached second base on the throw home. Nasta made it a 7-4 ballgame when she scampered in on an RBI single by freshman shortstop Taryn Asta (Marshfield, MA).

Sophomore pitcher Kara Willis (Burrilliville, RI) was able to get the final three outs, to pick up the win and improve to 3-1 on the year. Willis tossed all eight innings for her fourth complete game of the season, allowing five runs (two earned) on nine hits while striking out one.

The Beacons jumped ahead early when they sent 10 batters to the plate in the top of the first to take a 4-0 lead on six hits. Asta and freshman second baseman Kasey O'Connell (Qunicy, MA) each had RBI singles in the inning.

Bates was able to get an unearned run back in the second inning to cut the UMass Boston lead to 4-1, and then added two more runs in the third inning to make it a 4-3 contest.

For the Bobcats, freshman pitcher Caroline Gattuso (Windsor Locks, CT) hurled all eight innings, allowing seven runs (six earned) on 17 hits while striking out two in the loss.

In game two, Wolf was almost untouchable on the mound, allowing only two hits on the afternoon while recording five strikeouts. The one run the Yellow Jackets were able to score off of the southpaw was unearned.

The Beacons got all the run support they would need in the second inning with three runs on three hits. Asta belted an RBI double to knock home Nasta, before UMass Boston capitalized on a University of Rochester error to keep the inning going, allowing for two unearned runs to score making it 3-0 in the Beacons' favor.

In the fourth inning, after reaching base via an error, sophomore right fielder Kim Grimes (Oak Park, IL) plated the lone run for the Yellow Jackets, cutting the UMass Boston lead to 3-1.

UMass Boston added two insurance runs in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by Polsonetti and an RBI single from Killilea to stretch the lead to 5-1.

Wolf (2-3) was able to retire the side in order in the seventh inning to earn her second victory of the year.

The Beacons will head back north and resume play on Tuesday, March 23 when they host Pine Manor College at 3:00 p.m. Bates is back in action tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. vs. Eastern Connecticut State University, while University of Rochester plays Eastern Connecticut State University later in the day at 1:30 p.m.