MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – A back-and-forth offensive battle for UMass Boston Softball ended in defeat after a four-run sixth inning by Stevenson University resulting from two errors sunk the Beacons for the first time this season in South Carolina on Tuesday night, 11-8, snapping their four-game winning streak to start the season.
THE BASICS
UMass Boston 8, Stevenson University 11
UMass Boston (4-1)
Stevenson University (5-2)
HOW IT HAPPENED
As was the case with the previous three games, UMass Boston got on the board first with the bases loaded and one out when sophomore utility player
Amauri English hit a sacrifice fly to give the Beacons a 1-0 lead. But that would not last long as the first two batters for the Mustangs reached base safely for senior shortstop Jordan Fangman who knocked two runs in on her triple before being thrown out at home to give Stevenson the lead back, 2-1.
Loading up the bases for the second straight inning, the Beacons would capitalize to the tune of four runs in the inning, their second consecutive game in which they scored four runs in an inning. A walk issued to senior outfielder
Sydney Sanden tied the game up before freshman infielder
Lauren Miner's three-run triple gave UMass Boston a three-run cushion, 5-2.
But the Mustang offense would continue to fight back against every Beacon attempt to shift momentum as a two-RBI triple from freshman utility player Katie Dainton and junior utility player McKenzie Tobler's sacrifice fly tied the game back up at five all after just two innings. Stevenson would take their first lead of the game an inning later on another extra base hit, this time by sophomore outfielder Rebecca Henry, putting the Mustangs ahead 7-5 after three innings.
Mounting a response, UMass Boston tied the game back up and eventually took the lead over the course of the next three innings. Senior first baseman
Jordan Toomey knocked home senior infielder
Haley Tilberry with an RBI single after Tilberry's one-out double before four batters later junior infielder
Lauryn Bethea tied the game up on a fielder's choice in the fourth. A fielder's choice by Miner with two on and nobody out in the sixth gave UMass Boston the 8-7 edge before the Mustangs made their move to steal away the victory.
The first two runners in the home half of the sixth inning reached safely and with two outs Tobler's RBI single tied the game back up at eight. Working with the bases loaded and still two outs, junior pitcher
Emily Doble got graduate first baseman Megan Hamp to ground to Miner at short. Miner bobbled the ball and all runners reached safely as the Mustangs took the lead 9-8. Graduate pitcher Marissa Heuer gave Stevenson a cushion with her two-RBI double and UMass Boston went down in order in the seventh, dropping their first game of the season, 11-8.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Lauren Miner finished the game 1-for-2 with a triple, two walks, and four RBIs
- Jordan Toomey went 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored
- This is UMass Boston's first loss of the season when scoring first in the game, the Beacons were previously 3-0 entering the game when scoring first
- The Beacons are now tied with the 2017 for the best start in program history at 4-1, that team began the year 7-1 before dropping their next game
WHO'S NEXT
UMass Boston begins their penultimate doubleheader of the spring break trip tomorrow afternoon with games against Keystone College and McDaniel College scheduled for 1:00 and 5:00 respectively. This will be the first time in program history in which the Beacons have squared off against both opponents.
