CLERMONT, Fla.—Behind their biggest offensive output of the season, UMass Boston earned a 9-0 six-inning, mercy-rule victory over New England College, to lock up a .500 record on their Spring Break Trip.

THE BASICS

UMass Boston 9, New England College 0 (6)

Clarkson University 3, UMass Boston 0

(UMass Boston 4-4)

(New England College 7-11)

(Clarkson 10-4)

HOW IT HAPPENED

UMass Boston pounded out a season-high 14 hits and nine runs in their opener Wednesday, and freshman Annie Thomas (Lunenburg, Mass.) allowed just one hit in her first collegiate shutout.

The second game was decided early, as Clarkson scored three runs in the first two innings and junior pitcher Katie Pelton allowed just five hits and one unearned run in the 3-1 victory.

GAME ONE

Senior Kristina Bove (Medford, Mass.) and freshman Roxanne Vento (Arlington, Mass.) each finished with a team-high three hits, as the Beacons earned their first mercy-rule victory of the season. 

After opening the season 0-for-6, Bove finished a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs scored, one RBI and her first triple of the season. Vento kept up her red-hot start to the season, as the freshman went 3-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI. Kaitlyn Morse (Arlington, Mass.), Alexa St. Angelo (Cranston, R.I.) and Lauren Mitsiaris (Taunton, Mass.) all added two hits of their own, as the Beacons finished with a season-high 14 hits. 

In the circle, Thomas had her most efficient outing of the season, as she allowed just one hit and two walks in six innings. Thomas also struck out six batters. 

Pilgrims pitcher Gabriella Marcheschi was charged with nine runs, seven earned in six innings. 

UMass Boston opened the scoring in the second with four runs on five hits. After a lead-off walk, Gia Raczkowski (Stoneham, Mass.) came in to score on Vento's first collegiate triple. Mitsiaris followed with an RBI double and two batters later Taylor Pawlina (Woonsocket, R.I.) made it 3-0 with an RBI single. Bove tacked on an RBI single to make it 4-0 through 1.5 innings. 

The Beacons tacked on two more runs in the fourth. After a two-out error helped the Beacons extend the inning, St. Angelo blasted a double to left-center field to plate Pawlina and Bove. 

Freshman Taylor Marcotte (Agawam, Mass.) added an RBI double in the fifth, and Morse and Vento both contributed RBI singles in the sixth. 

Game Two

In their final game of their Florida trip, UMass Boston couldn't avoid their fourth-straight split, as they took on a red-hot Golden Knights squad. 

Clarkson got to Vic Zechello (Foxborough, Mass.) for two runs in the first and a second run in the third, to earn their ninth-consecutive victory.

On the mound for the Beacons, Zechello was handed her first loss of the season, after giving up four hits and three runs, two earned in two innings. Thomas came on and threw three scoreless innings, before Morgan Bishop (Ramsey, N.J.) closed out the game by allowing just one walk over two scoreless innings.

Clarkson needed just four batters to grab the lead, as Chelsea Elliott delivered an RBI single and Liz Caggiano followed with one of her own to make it 2-0.

The Golden Knights made it 3-0 in the second, when Clarkson capitalized on a lead-off error to push a run across.

After struggling to piece anything together against Pelton, UMass Boston finally had their bats come alive in the seventh. Mitsiaris reached on an error with one out and moved over to second on a Marcotte single. Pawlina followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 3-1 with two outs. Pelton got a harmless groundout to close the game, as the Golden Knights kept their winning streak alive. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• With their game one win, UMass Boston posted their most wins in Florida since 2012. The Beacons' four Florida wins are one more than they posted in the last two seasons combined. 
• The Beacons' nine runs were their most in 23 games. UMass Boston scored 15 runs in a 15-14 win over Framingham State University on April 9, 2015. 
• With her 4-for-7 day, Vento leaves Florida hitting .462 with a team-high six RBI and five runs scored. 
• After giving up just two earned runs in 13 innings, the Beacons' team ERA dropped to 1.43 on the season. Thomas has allowed one earned run in 33 innings.
• UMass Boston evened their record to 1-1 all-time against New England College. 
• On the other side, the Beacons fell to 0-1 all-time against Clarkson University.

WHO'S NEXT

UMass Boston will return to Massachusetts on Thursday. The Beacons will open their New England schedule on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m., as UMass Boston travels to Babson College for a non-conference doubleheader.