March 14, 2011

Box Score

CLERMONT, FL - The University of Massachusetts Boston softball fell to New England College, 11-7, Monday morning at the NTX Athletic Complex in Clermont, FL. With the win, the Pilgrims notch their first victory of the season and improve to 1-3 overall while the Beacons drop their first game of the year, falling to 2-1 in the early goings of the 2011 campaign.

After falling behind 5-0 in the first, the Pilgrims erupted for five runs of their own in the third to even the score at 5-5. Freshman left fielder Samantha Gagnon (Rollinsford, NH) led off the frame with a bunt single before senior pitcher Megan McDevitt (Newport, NH) reached via an error to put two runners on with nobody out. A single to left field by senior left fielder Teraysa White (Belgrade, ME) plated Gagnon for New England's first run of the afternoon. Senior catcher Mindy Robbins (Oxford, MA) would later belt a two-RBI double to drive in the tying runs at make it a 5-5 contest but the Beacons would regain the lead in the bottom half of the third with two runs as the result of RBI singles by senior centerfield Christina Polosnetti (Revere, MA) and junior right fielder Jaci Goodwin (Melrose, MA), making it a 7-5 game in favor or UMass Boston.

New England College continued to battle at the plate and would take its first lead of the afternoon by plating four runs in the fourth to go ahead 9-7. Robbins drove in a run with an RBI bunt single and the big blow came on a two-RBI single down the right field line by second baseman Meghan Beausoleil (Littleton, NH) to give the Pilgrims the two-run cushion. They'd add two insurance runs in the seventh on a two-out two-RBI single by senior shortstop Rachel White (Arlington, MA) to secure the 11-7 win.

In the first, UMass Boston stuck for five runs with two outs to open up a lead they'd never relinquish. Sophomore catcher Sue Killilea (Abington, MA) got things started with an infield single and then senior third baseman Maria Nasta (Andover, MA) followed suit with a bleeder through the right side of the infield to put two runners on. Freshman designated player Erika Vecchiet (Pequannock, NJ) walked to load the bases for sophomore shortstop Taryn Asta (Marshfield, MA) who delivered a bases clearing double down the left field line to put the Beacons on top, 3-0. Up next, junior first baseman Lisa Polsonetti (Revere, MA) blasted an RBI double to the base of the left field fence to knock home Asta for the 4-0 lead. C. Polosnetti knocked her sister home with a double of her own to conclude the scoring in the first for the 5-0 UMass Boston advantage.

For NEC, T. White finished the game going 4-5 with an RBI and three runs scored while R. White chipped in with two hits, two runs and three RBI in the win.

Asta led the Beacons with three RBI, two runs and a double while C. Polsonetti was the only UMass Boston player with multiple hits, going 2-3 with two RBI.

Sophomore pitcher Gabrielle Timms (Clark Summit, PA) was phenomenal in relief, hurling four perfect innings out of the pen to earn the victory and improve to 1-1 on the year. For the Beacons, senior southpaw Emily Wolf (Salem, NH) suffered the loss and falls to 1-1 on the season.

Both squads are back in action later today at 1:30 p.m. as the Beacons play Westfield State University and the Pilgrims face off against the College of St. Scholastica.