April 20, 2010

Game One Box Score Game Two Box Score

GORHAM, ME - Sophomore pitcher Alexandra Perdomo (Portland, ME) scattered six hits over five innings and the University of Southern Maine softball team plated nine runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to defeat University of Massachusetts Boston 12-3 in five innings to salvage a Little East Conference doubleheader split Tuesday afternoon at Towers Field in Gorham, Maine. The Beacons stole a win from the Huskies in the opener scoring two runs in the top of the eight inning to break open a 1-1 stalemate and grab the 3-1 win.

Winners of three of its last four games, Southern Maine improves to 8-22 and 4-4 in the Little East Conference. The Beacons, who had their school-record 10-game win streak snapped in the nightcap, are 16-11 overall and 3-3 in the conference.

Perdomo picked up her second win of the season, holding the Beacons to three runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks. She struck out five in the win. UMass Boston sophomore pitcher Kara Willis (Burrillville, RI) took the loss to fall to 7-6. Willis gave up six runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks. Willis allowed three runs in the sixth inning (two earned), including the go-ahead run, before being lifted for junior Emily Wolf (Salem, NH). Wolf, the game one winner, allowed six runs (three earned) on five hits.

The Beacons jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after their first at bats. The Beacons led off with a single and double before freshman catcher Sue Killilea (Abington, MA) drove in a pair of runs with her school-record matching seventh triple to right center field. UMB scored its third run of the inning when Killilea crossed the plate after a wild pitch.

USM answered back with two runs in the bottom of the inning on pair of RBI sacrifice hits from freshman 1B Katie Davis (Woburn, MA) and sophomore catcher Jess Hayden (Madison, ME). The Huskies pulled even with the Beacons in the bottom of the third. Davis doubled in sophomore third baseman Laura Leger (Quincy, MA), who reached on a Beacon error to lead off.

Following a scoreless fourth inning, Perdomo worked her way out of a jam in the top of the fifth. After getting a fly out to start the inning, Perdomo loaded the bases with a pair of walks and single to left field from freshman third baseman Marisa McKinnon (Revere, MA). However, the Huskies turned a key double play to end the inning. Leger assisted on the force out at home and Hayden gunned down the batter at first base to keep the score 3-3.

Willis found herself in a similar spot in the home half of the fifth, giving up singles to sophomore outfielder Lauren DiCecco (South Berwick, ME) and Davis, before Hayden walked to load the bases. Junior designated player Melissa Caiazzo (Portland, ME) singled in the go-ahead run with a bloop single to center field. One out later, USM went ahead 5-3 on a pinch-hit single from freshman Erin Swarbrick (Windham, NH). Junior shortstop Heather Gilman (Fairfield, ME) broke open the game with a two run double that hit off the left field fence to put the Huskies up 7-3, before USM scored five more runs. Hayden's two-run double to center field ended the game in the fifth inning due to the five run rule.

In the opener, UMass Boston came out on top in a stellar pitching duel plating two runs in the eighth inning. Wolf scattered six hits over eight innings, allowing just one earned run while fanning four. USM junior pitcher Sarah Deroche (Portland, ME) was the hard luck loser allowing three runs (two earned) in eight innings. Deroche yielded nine hits and one walk while striking out four.

Locked in a 1-1 battle, sophomore left fielder Jaci Goodwin (Melrose, MA) and junior center fielder Christina Polsonetti (Revere, MA) each drove in a run with a sacrifice hit to put the Beacons ahead 3-1 in the top of the eighth. Wolf picked up her ninth win of the season in the bottom half of the inning retiring the Huskies' batters in order for the final.

Southern Maine hosts Colby College in a non-conference doubleheader against Colby Colleg on Wednesday (3:30 p.m.). UMass Boston travels to Bridgewater State for a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday, April 22 (3:30 p.m.).

Material used in this report courtesy of University of Southern Maine Sports Information