April 22, 2011

Game One Box Score     Game Two Box Score

BOSTON, MA - The University of Massachusetts Boston softball team erased a 4-0 deficit in game two of a Little East Conference doubleheader vs. Western Connecticut State University to pull out the 8-6 come-from-behind victory and salvage Friday afternoon's twinbill split at the Clark Athletic Center field. The Colonials captured game one, 5-0, behind a complete game shutout performance from junior pitcher Magen Dargon (Trumbull, CT). With the results, the Beacons now stand at 19-11 overall and 3-5 in the LEC while the Colonials are 17-8 overall and 3-3 in the LEC.

In the opener, Dargon was dominant on the mound, scattering six hits while striking out seven in the 5-0 shutout victory. She got all the run support she'd need in the fourth inning when WestConn sent seven batters to the plate and scored four runs to jump ahead 4-0. In the frame, senior catcher Meghan Mammone (Stamford, CT) belted an RBI double while Dargon helped her own cause with a sacrifice fly to pace the Colonials offensive surge. The visitors would tack on a run in the sixth on a first and third double-steal attempt as one runner was caught at second, allowing Mammone to advance home on the throw for the 5-0 advantage.

Junior pitcher Katie Corey (Weymouth, MA) suffered the loss for UMass Boston allowing all five runs (four earned) on 10 hits while recording four strikeouts. Sophomore catcher Sue Killilea (Abington, MA) was the only Beacon to collect more than one hit going 2-3 at the plate with a pair of singles.

In the nightcap, UMass Boston found itself in a 4-0 hole heading into the bottom of the third inning as Dargon continued her dominance on the mound. The Beacons were finally able to get on the scoreboard when they plated a pair of runs in the third as senior third baseman Maria Nasta's (Andover, MA) RBI single drove in the first UMB run of the day in junior left fielder Jaci Goodwin (Melrose, MA), who was on via an infield single. Senior centerfielder Christina Polsonetti (Revere, MA) scored the other run, coming in following a WestConn miscue to cut the visitor's lead to 4-2.

The Colonials would get one right back as senior third baseman Amy Hartman (Ellington, CT) drove in an RBI double in the fourth to knock home junior shortstop Danielle Basciano (Holmes, NY) for the 5-2 lead. UMass Boston would respond with a run of their own in the bottom half of the frame, as freshman right fielder Natalia Bouyea (East Longmeadow, MA) plated another unearned run to cut Western Connecticut's lead to 5-3.

Having thrown the first 11 innings on the day, Dargon was lifted in the fifth and replaced by freshman pitcher Stephanie Moss (Brookfield, MA). The Beacons jumped on Moss immediately, scoring three runs in the fifth to take their first lead of the day. Nasta delivered the big blow with a two-RBI triple to right and came into score on an RBI groundout by freshman designated player Erika Vecchiet (Pequannock, NJ) to make it 6-5, UMass Boston.

WestConn tied the game at 6-6 in the sixth as junior centerfielder Jackie Zilnicki (Riverhead, NY) came around on a UMass Boston error but it was all the Colonials were able to manage as senior southpaw Emily Wolf (Salem, NH) was able to work her way out of a bases loaded jam to keep the game all squared.

In the bottom of the sixth, sophomore second baseman Kasey O'Connell (Quincy, MA) led off the inning with an infield single and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore shortstop Taryn Asta (Marshfield, MA). After a UMass Boston strikeout, Killilea was intentionally walked with two outs, but a wild pitch among the four balls allowed O'Connell to move to third. With Polsonetti up at the plate, the Beacons attempted to put a suicide squeeze play on but Polsonetti came up empty at the plate, however, O'Connell was able to steal home, scoring what proved to be the eventual game-winner. With the go ahead run in, Polsonetti then swung away and ripped an RBI single to drive home Killilea and give the Beacons a two-run cushion at 8-6 heading into the final frame. Following a leadoff single by junior right fielder Melissa Fracker (Sandy Hook, CT), Wolf was able to retire the next three batters, preserving the 8-6 UMass Boston victory.

Wolf earned the win to improve to 11-4 on the season, tossing 7.0 innings while allowing six runs (three earned) on 11 hits to go along with seven strikeouts. Moss suffered the loss and drops to 6-2 on the year.

The Beacons will be back in action on Wednesday, April 27 when they host Southern Maine in another LEC twinbill beginning at 3:00 PM while the Colonials host Eastern CT State on Tuesday, April 26 at 5:00 PM in Danbury, CT. Both teams were scheduled to play tomorrow but the games have been postponed due to heavy rainfall in the forecast.