March 13, 2011

Box Score

CLERMONT, FL - The University of Massachusetts Boston softball team took advantage of three unearned runs en route to a 6-3 victory over Babson College Sunday morning in Clermont, FL at the NTC Athletic Complex. The Beacons start the year off with a victory for the first time since the 2005 season, improving to 1-0 while Babson falls to 2-3.

The Beavers would get on the board first with a run in the bottom of the first on an RBI double by junior catcher Nicole Latini (East Bridgewater, MA) but the Beacons answered immediately, scoring two unearned runs in the top of the second to take the 2-1 lead, but it was short lived as junior centerfield Lisa Wojnar (Bellaire, TX) ripped an RBI single up the middle to tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the second.

UMass Boston regained the one-run advantage as sophomore catcher Sue Killilea (Abington, MA) blasted a triple to right-center field and later scored on a Babson error to put the Beacons back on top, 3-2, in the top of the third inning.

In the fourth inning, junior pitcher Katie Corey (Weymouth, MA) helped her own cause, leading off the inning with a single to centerfield, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior centerfielder Christina Polsonetti (Revere, MA) and scoring on an RBI double by freshman right fielder Toni Scola (Worcester, MA) to put UMass Boston on top, 4-2. Corey came back strong on the mound, mowing down the Beavers in order in the bottom half of the frame to preserve the lead.

Babson would pull within one with a run in the fifth at 4-3 following an RBI triple by Latini, driving in sophomore shortstop Catie Funk (Scarborough, ME) who reached earlier in the inning on an infield single, but Corey would record the final out of the inning via a strikeout to strand the tying runner in Latini at third.

The Beacons would two add insurance runs in the seventh inning to secure the win. Sophomore second baseman Kasey O'Connell (Quincy, MA) got things started with a single before Killilea belted a double to put runners at second and third with one out for senior third baseman Maria Nasta (Andover, MA). Nasta ripped a deep fly ball to right field that was lost in the sun to fall in for a double, scoring O'Connell to make it 5-3. Polsonetti would later leg out an infield single to knock in Killilea, making it a 6-3 game.

Corey tossed a complete game for UMass Boston, scattering eight hits while striking out seven to earn her first victory with the Beacons. Freshman pitcher Tess Rubega (Norwich, CT) took the loss for Babson, allowing six runs (three earned) over seven innings of work.

Both squads are back in action later today at 11:30 a.m. The Beacons face off against Wesleyan and Babson will play SUNY-Geneseo at the NTC Athletic Complex.