MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – A seven run sixth inning for UMass Boston Softball on Tuesday afternoon against College of Mount Saint Vincent helped the Beacons solidify their lead against the Dolphins en route to their fourth consecutive win to the start the season in South Carolina, 13-6.

THE BASICS

UMass Boston 13, College of Mount Saint Vincent 6

UMass Boston (4-0)

College of Mount Saint Vincent (3-4)

HOW IT HAPPENED
For the third consecutive game, the Beacons were the first to strike when a leadoff walk to senior infielder Haley Tilberry followed by a sacrifice bunt from senior outfielder Sydney Sanden and a wild pitch, set up junior pitcher Bri Melchionda for the sacrifice fly to score the first run of the afternoon.

Through their first three games, the big inning has been a specialty for the Beacons and they would have another offensive explosion in the second inning to the tune of four runs to take a 5-0 lead. With two on and one out, senior catcher Tam Landry hit a two-run double to the deep left-center field and after sophomore utility player Adrianna Fusco singled, Tilberry would come through with a two-run triple to right-center field to put UMass Boston in the driver seat.

The first three batters would reach base for the Dolphins in the bottom half of the frame and miscommunication on a fly ball to right field would allow senior utility player Jocelyn Vega to reach base with an RBI single to plate the first run for Mount Saint Vincent. Back-to-back singles from freshman outfielder Simone Caruso and senior first baseman Katie Hutter brought the Beacon lead down to two runs, 5-3.

Melchionda would escape the bases loaded jam when sophomore designated player Sabrina Colon hit into a fielders choice at home and then junior second baseman Kaitlin Cirillo hit into a double play to Melchionda. UMass Boston would get a run back in the third inning on an RBI ground out by Sanden, making it a 6-3 ballgame.

With runners on the corners in the fifth inning, CSMV would scrape across another run on a Hutter sacrifice fly to center field, inching within two runs again, 6-4, before Melchionda once again escaped the inning with the Beacons still in front.

Needing some insurance, UMass Boston loaded the bases up in the top of the sixth inning with the heart of their order coming to the dish.  Seven runs would come in to score via two singles by Sanden and senior first baseman Jordan Toomey, three fielder's choices, and a hit batter to put the Beacons up by nine runs and on the verge of their third consecutive mercy rule, 13-4.

Mount Saint Vincent would extend the game another inning after a two-run double from Vega made it a seven-run game, 13-6, which UMass Boston would go on to win for their fourth straight win to begin the season, tying their best start in program history set back in 2017.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Tam Landry finished with a team-high and career-high three RBIs, going 1-for-3 with a double, walk, and two runs scored
• Bri Melchionda won her second start of the season, going the full seven innings while allowing six runs (four earned) on 11 hits with seven strikeouts and two walks
• UMass Boston is now 3-0 when scoring first this season
• At 4-0, this is the best start to a season for UMass Boston since beginning the 2017 season with a 4-0 record which is also the best start in program history

WHO'S NEXT
UMass Boston returns to the field later this afternoon against Stevenson University for the first time in program history. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 PM.