April 16, 2011

Game One Box Score      Game Two Box Score

BOSTON, MA - The University of Massachusetts Boston softball team completed the doubleheader sweep over the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in this afternoon's Little East Conference twinbill; 8-3, 8-0, at the Clark Athletic Center field on the campus of UMass Boston. With the victories, the Beacons improve to 18-8 on the year and 2-2 in the LEC while the losses drop the Corsairs to 6-13 overall and 1-5 in the LEC.

Trailing 2-1, the Beacons exploded for a four-run second inning to take a command of the game, never looking back. Freshman right fielder Natalia Bouyea (East Longmeadow, MA) got things started with her first collegiate homerun, leading off the frame with a shot over the left field fence to even the score at 2-2. Sophomore second baseman Kasey O'Connell (Quincy, MA) was then able to reach base with the help on a UMass Dartmouth miscue followed by a single from sophomore shortstop Taryn Asta (Marshfield, MA) to put two runners on. Two batters later, senior centerfield Christina Polsonetti (Revere, MA) delivered the big blow with a three-run homer to left-center, putting UMass Boston on top, 5-2.

The Beacons would add three more to the lead in the fourth as sophomore catcher Sue Killilea (Abington, MA) plated Asta with an RBI single to right to make it 6-2. Polsonetti would drive in Killilea with an RBI triple and then come around to score on a double by freshman designated player Erika Vecchiet (Pequannock, NJ) giving UMass Boston the 8-2 advantage.

The Corsairs made some noise in the fifth inning, threatening to get back into the contest as junior first baseman Katie Hogan (Tewksbury, MA) and junior pitcher Brittany Eldrige (Raynham, MA) opened the inning with back-to-back singles to put two runners on for junior designated player Diane Barry (Norwood, MA). Barry was able to work a walk, loading the bases for junior leftfielder Elizabeth Mulready (Rockland, MA), who was also able to work a walk to force in Hogan and pull UMass Dartmouth a run closer at 8-3. With no outs and the bases juiced, junior starting pitcher Katie Corey (Weymouth, MA) was able to pitch UMass Boston out of the jam, striking out the side to strand the bases loaded and escape any further damage.

UMass Boston got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the first on an RBI double from Vecchiet to make it 1-0 but the Corsairs responded with two runs in the top of the second to take their only lead of the afternoon. Freshman shortstop Emily Pontes (Rockland, MA) and freshman second baseman Marissa Arponen (Plymouth, MA) were both able to work walks with the bases loaded to drive in both UMass Dartmouth runs in the frame and lift the visitors to the 2-1 lead.

Corey went the distance for the Beacons, scattering five hits while recording a season-high eight strikeouts for the win to improve to 8-5 on the season. Eldridge suffered the loss for Dartmouth, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits while striking out four.

In game two, UMass Boston scored in every inning including four in the first to cruise to the 8-0 win in a five inning shortened contest.

Vecchiet, junior first baseman Lisa Polsonetti (Revere, MA) and Asta all had RBI singles in the first to aid to the early 4-0 UMB advantage.

Killilea would make it 5-0 with a solo shot in the second, her second homer of the season. The Beacons would continue to push in the third as Asta collected another RBI single, this time on a suicide squeeze that plated Polsonetti for a 6-0 UMass lead.

Polsonetti would add a sacrifice fly in the fourth to knock in senior third baseman Maria Nasta (Andover, MA) for the 7-0 UMass Boston advantage before Killilea ended the game with an RBI double in the fifth to drive in Asta and give UMass Boston the 8-0 win.

Senior southpaw Emily Wolf (Salem, NH) tossed five scoreless innings, allowing only one hit while striking out one to improve to 10-3 on the season. The win was also the 23rd of her career with the Beacons, tying her with Ann Anderlionis (1988-90) for the all-time wins mark at UMB. Eldrige suffered the loss again for Dartmouth and falls to 6-9 on the year. After today's contest, Wolf has not allowed a run in 14.0 innings spanning over three outings.

UMass Boston will return to action on Tuesday, April 19 when they head to Gorham, ME for another LEC twinbill vs. Southern Maine at 3:30 p.m. while the Corsairs return to the diamond tomorrow for a doubleheader in Milton, MA vs. Curry College starting at 2:30 p.m.