March 24, 2011

Game One Box Score   Game Two Box Score

BOSTON, MA - Senior third baseman Maria Nasta (Andover, MA) homered in game one and the University of Massachusetts Boston softball team rallied for six runs in the seventh inning in game two to complete the doubleheader sweep over Salem State University, 6-3, 6-5, Thursday afternoon at the Clark Athletic Center field on the campus of UMass Boston. With the pair of victories, UMass Boston improves to 6-4 on the year while the losses snap a four-game winning streak and drop the Vikings to 6-6 overall.

In game one, Nasta belted a three-run homer to left-centerfield to in the bottom of the first inning to help the Beacons jump out to the early 3-0 lead. The Vikings would get one back in the second to make it 3-1 on an RBI double by sophomore shortstop Lauren Garchinsky (Saugus, MA) but UMass Boston would answer in the bottom half of the inning and an RBI infield single by junior right fielder Jaci Goodwin (Melrose, MA) to put the lead back to 4-1.

The Beacons would go on to plate an unearned run in the fourth and then manufacture another run in the fifth inning to go ahead, 6-1 before Salem State began to chip away, plating a run in the sixth. Freshman designated player Paige Flemming (Methuen, MA) reached base on a fielder's choice, moved around to third on a double by junior second baseman Michelle Grifoni (Peabody, MA), and eventually scored on a wild pitch to cut the lead to 6-2. The Vikings would make things interesting in the seventh as freshman centerfielder Lauren DiCredico (Tewksbury, MA) belted an RBI single to push the score to 6-3 but was caught at second trying to stretch the hit into a double for the second out of the inning. Following the play at second, the Vikings would load the bases on three consecutive singles by junior catcher Gabbie Vitale (Danvers, MA), Garchinsky and Flemming but UMass Boston junior pitcher Katie Corey (Weymouth, MA) was able to record the final out via a strikeout, stranding the tying run on base to earn her third victory of the season.

Corey went the distance for the Beacons, scattering eight hits while allowing three runs to go along with three strikeouts for the win. DiCredico suffered the loss for Salem State allowing four runs over 1 1/3 innings before giving way to junior pitcher Katelynn Fanning, who pitched very well in relief, allowing four hits and only one earned run over 3 2/3 innings of work while freshman pitcher Brittney Howe (Wichendon, MA) also hurled a perfect inning in relief.

In game two, Fanning took the ball again for the Vikings and dominated the Beacons for six innings before the bats came to life in the seventh frame. Entering the final inning, Fanning had only allowed two base hits and had managed to keep UMass Boston off the scoreboard while the Vikings amassed a 5-0 cushion. Freshman designated player Erika Vecchiet (Pequannock, NJ) got the inning started for the Beacons with a walk and two batters later, junior first baseman Christina Polsonetti (Revere, MA) singled to put two runners on. Next up, sophomore shortstop Taryn Asta (Marshfield, MA) hit a comebacker right to Fanning who elected to go to third on the play, but pinch runner Toni Scola (Worcester, MA) beat the throw to keep the rally going. Now with the bases loaded and only one out, Goodwin ripped a shot to third base that was fielded cleanly but the throw home to try and force out Scola sailed low allowing UMass Boston to plate its first run of the game and cut the lead to 5-1. Sophomore second baseman Kasey O'Connell (Quincy, MA) kept things going with a clutch double down the right field line to drive in two more runs, cutting the Vikings lead in half to 5-3, while also putting the tying runs in scoring position. Fanning was lifted from the game in lieu of freshman pitcher Nicole Howe (Peabody, MA) who had the tough task of facing sophomore catcher Sue Killilea (Abington, MA). Killilea laced a ball between the first and second base hole the was fielded cleanly with a diving pick by junior Ashley Aldred (Arlington, MA), but Killilea was able to win the foot race to the bag for the infield single which allowed Goodwin to score, pulling UMass Boston within a run at 5-4. Up next, Nasta smoked the first pitch she saw right up the middle for an RBI single to plate O'Connell and even the score at 5-5. Junior first baseman Lisa Polsonetti (Revere, MA) kept the hit party going with a perfect bunt single up the first base line to load the bases and move the winning run in Killilea to third. Fanning reentered the game in the flex position to try and escape the jam and force extra innings but Vecchiett was able to get the best of her for the second time in the frame, hammering a ball to the base of the fence to drive home Killilea and lift UMass Boston to the 6-5 walk-off win.

The Vikings got on the board first win a run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Garchinsky, scoring DiCredico who had reached earlier on a single to right-centerfield. Salem would jump ahead 5-0 in the fifth when they plated four more runs with the help of an RBI double by Grifoni and an RBI single by Vitale.

Senior southpaw Emily Wolf (Salem, NH) battled for the Beacons on the mound to earn the win and improve to 3-2 on the season. She went the distance allowing five runs (four earned), on seven hits while recording four strikeouts. Wilson, who did not retire a batter, suffered the loss to drop to 2-1 on the season while Fanning finished the game with nine strikeouts.

The Beacons will return to action on Saturday, March 26 when they head to Buzzards Bay, MA for a doubleheader against Massachusetts Maritime beginning at 1:00 p.m. while Salem State heads to Waltham, MA the same day for a doubleheader vs. Brandeis beginning at 1:00 p.m.