April 30, 2011

 Game One Box Score   Game Two Box Score

BOSTON, MA - Rhode Island College used two strong pitching performances to sweep the University of Massachusetts Boston softball team in Little East Conference action this afternoon at the Clark Athletic Center field. The Anchorwomen captured game one 7-2 and completed the sweep with a 2-1 victory in game two. RIC improves to 30-7 and 9-3 in the LEC while the Beacons fall to 21-13 and 5-7.

In game one, the Anchorwomen jumped out to an early 3-0 by plating three unearned runs in the second inning following two UMass Boston miscues. An RBI single by senior shortstop Danielle Mattoon (Coventry, RI) accounted for the third RIC run in the frame.

The Anchorwomen would add four more runs in the top of the fifth to break the game open. Junior third baseman Cristina Bailey (Londonderry, NH) led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior centerfielder Amanda Perry (New Bedford, MA). Junior right fielder Jaci Lata (Lisbon, NH) drew a walk to put two on for sophomore designated player Emily Johnson (West Kingston, RI) who delivered the big blow with a two-RBI double to deep centerfield, plating Perry and Lata to make it 5-0. Next up, freshman left fielder Stacy Pokora (Wilton, CT) laced a double down the left field line to drive in Johnson for the 6-0 RIC margin. Pokora would score the final run of the inning on an RBI single to centerfield by senior catcher Kayla Jandreau (Plainville, CT) to account for the visitor's 7-0 lead.

Killilea finished the game going 3-4 at the plate to lead the way for the Beacons while Jandreau also had a 3-4 showing at the plate for the Anchorwomen.

On the mound for the Anchorwomen, senior Amanda Berard (Swansea, MA) overpowered the Beacons for much of the afternoon, going the distance and allowing just the two runs on eight hits while striking out 10 in the win to improve to 11-3 on the year. Senior southpaw Emily Wolf (Salem, NH) suffered the loss for UMB and falls to 12-5 on the season.

In game two, RIC got on the board quickly with a pair of runs in the first and never looked back. Mattoon scored the first Anchorwomen run on an RBI double by Bailey and came around to score on a single to left by Perry.

The Beacons made some noise in the third as both Killilea and C. Polsonetti led off the inning with back-to-back singles, however, the Anchorwomen were able to escape the jam without surrendering a run to maintain the 2-0 advantage.

UMass Boston would crack the scoring column in the fourth to make it a one-run game. Freshman right fielder Toni Scola (Worcester, MA) worked a one-out walk and moved over to third on a single by junior left fielder Jaci Goodwin (Melrose, MA). Killilea then delivered a two-out RBI single to right to make it a 2-1 game but the Anchorwomen were able to strand the tying run in Goodwin at third as junior pitcher Kyla Puccini (North Dighton, MA) was able to end the inning with a strikeout.

Puccini was able to keep the Beacons at bay over the final two innings to preserve the 2-1 victory and improve to 10-2 on the season, scattering six hits while striking out seven in the win. For UMB, junior pitcher Katie Corey (Weymouth, MA) was the touch luck loser and falls to 8-8 on the year, allowing just two runs on six hits.

Both teams hit the road tomorrow for their regular season finales as the Beacons head to Plymouth, NH to face Plymouth State University at 1:00 p.m. while the Anchorwomen head to Danbury, CT for doubleheader vs. Western CT State slated for a 1:00 p.m. start.