MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The UMass Boston softball team recorded a pair of one-run victories on it spring break trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Thursday defeating the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) 2-1 before holding on for a 5-4 win over Franciscan University in the nightcap.
 
THE BASICS
UMass Boston 2, Saint Joseph (Conn.) 1
UMass Boston 5, Franciscan 4
 
UMass Boston (4-2)
Saint Joseph (6-3)
Franciscan (0-6)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
In the opener against Saint Joseph, UMass Boston scored its only two runs of the game in the bottom of the fifth. Leadoff infield hits by seniors Sarah Harlinski (Sturbridge, Mass.) and Britney Perkett (Pittsfield, Mass.) put runners on the corners, and Perkett quickly stole second to put two Beacons in scoring position with no outs in the inning. Harlinski scored thew game's first run on classmate Alley Diaute's (Braintree, Mass.) ground out to second and Perkett came home following sophomore Brianna Melchionda's (Marshfield, Mass.) single to center.
 
The Blue Jays got one run back in the top of the seventh, but was unable to come all the were back. Senior Riley Mulligan drove in classmate Abigail Dillon from second with a double before getting thrown out at third trying to stretch the play to a triple, which was the first out of the inning. Saint Joseph would strand a runner at first after freshman Jenna Zup reached on an error with two away.
 
Senior Hayley Catania (Amesbury, Mass.) went the distance for UMass Boston, improving her record to 2-1 after allowing one run on seven hits with three strikeouts. Freshman Amanda Savinelli fell to 3-2 for the Blue Jays after allowing two runs on nine hits over her six innings of work.
 
Melchionda was a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish with three singles and one RBI, while Perkett finished 2-for-3 with a run scored.
 
In the second game of the day, the game was tied 1-1 heading to the bottom of the fifth, where Diaute quickly found herself at third with a leadoff triple before eventually scoring on junior Sydney Sanden's (Riverton, Conn.) sac-fly to center.
 
That lead was short-lived as Franciscan plated two runs in the top of the sixth to go up 3-2. The Barons drew even when sophomore Ashley Benson scored from second on junior Ariana Arnone's double to right. Arnone later moved to third before scoring on a wild pitch with two outs in the frame.
 
The Beacons had the answer in the bottom of the frame, scoring three times with two outs to regain the lead for good. Freshman Gabriella Messier (Berkley, Mass.) drove in sophomore Lauryn Bethea (Springfield, Mass.) and freshman Christina Panagiotopoulos (Lowell, Mass.) with a triple to center before scoring what proved to be the game-winning run on Diaute's single to the gap in left.
 
Franciscan got one run back after putting runners on the corners with two outs in the top of the seventh, but was unable to draw even. Senior Elizabeth Gibson drove in classmate Rachel Cooper with a single to left before fellow senior Chloe Cross grounded out to junior Jordan Toomey (Arlington, Mass.) at first to end the game.
 
Junior Meghan Adams (Portsmouth, Mass.) evened her record at 1-1 after yielding one run on three hits and a walk over the final 1.2 innings for UMass Boston. Sophomore Emily Doble (Danvers, Mass.) didn't factor in the decision for the Beacons after allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits over her 5.1 innings.
 
Freshman Kimberly McDaniels suffered the loss for the Barons after giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits over five-plus innings before being lifted with no outs in the bottom of the sixth. Sophomore Lilly Wahl would allow two runs on three hits after entering the game in relief.
 
Diaute finished the game 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while Panagiotopoulos and junior Haley Tilberry (Moosic, Pa.) both had two hits and one run scored.
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
 
The Beacons will close out their spring break trip with a pair of games Friday, taking on Mount Aloysius College (9:30 a.m.) and Wilson College (11:30 a.m.).