BOSTON, Mass. – It was a tale of two games for the UMass Boston Softball offense whose 10-run explosion in game one earned them a 10-2 victory in five innings over the University of Southern Maine before their bats were stifled in game two, leading to a 1-0 shutout loss as part of their doubleheader split at home on Saturday.
 
THE BASICS

UMass Boston 10, University of Southern Maine 2 (5 Innings)
UMass Boston 0, University of Southern Maine 1
 
UMass Boston (15-5, 2-2 LEC)
University of Southern Maine (7-11, 3-1 LEC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

Game 1: UMass Boston 10, University of Southern Maine 2 (5 Innings)
It would only take two big innings from UMass Boston to help give them a big first game win over Southern Maine, starting off with a six-run first inning off of freshman pitcher Lexus McIntosh and junior pitcher Belle Snyder. The highlights of the frame would see sophomore utility player Amauri English drive home two runs on an RBI single followed by sophomore catcher Kaitlyn Sawyer clearing the bases with a three-run double as the Beacons quickly moved ahead 6-0.

Junior infielder Madison Day's RBI single in the second inning looked to give the Huskies some momentum to get back into the contest, but junior pitcher Emily Doble would shut down the threat. Meanwhile a trio of RBI singles from senior infielder Haley Tilberry, senior outfielder Sydney Sanden, and English along with junior designated player Bri Melchionda reaching safely on an error, gave the Beacons a 10-1 lead in the third.

Facing the mercy rule, the Huskies looked to stave off the run rule in the fifth inning as Day lined out to junior third baseman Lauryn Bethea whose error made it a 10-2 ballgame. Doble would come back to get the next two Southern Maine hitters to strike out and fly out, capping off the second consecutive conference win of the season for the Beacons who moved to 15-4 on the year.
 
Game 2: UMass Boston 0, University of Southern Maine 1
Offense would come at a premium in game two for both sides as the Huskies would plate just a single run through the first five innings on an RBI single by junior pitcher Lauren Merrill. On the mound, Merrill would make quick work of the Beacon lineup in that same span, allowing just three runners to reach base via two errors and a single by Sanden.

Despite only plating the only run in the first five innings, the Huskies would have their chances against Melchionda who got the start in the circle for game two. Southern Maine would leave eight runners on base against the junior through five innings of play with Merrill's two-out hit being the required offense to break the stalemate.

Following the Merrill hit in the fifth, the pitcher would go on to retire nine of the last 10 UMass Boston hitters she faced to give the Huskies the doubleheader split with a 1-0 victory in game two after shutting out the Beacons over seven innings while allowing one hit and striking out seven.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• With the game one victory, the 2023 UMass Boston Softball team had their best start in program history at 15-4, surpassing the 2017 squad who started the season 14-7
• Emily Doble tallied her sixth win of the season, allowing two runs (both unearned) on two hits while striking out three and walking two across the complete five innings
• Bri Melchionda dropped her first game on the mound this season despite a masterful seven inning performance in which she allowed one run on five hits while striking out three and walking five
• Sydney Sanden finished with a team-best 3-for-5 afternoon in the doubleheader with one double while driving in one run and scoring once

WHO'S NEXT
UMass Boston will begin a six-game, 10-day road trip starting with a Little East Conference doubleheader against WestConn slated for Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 PM. The Beacons have won six of their last seven matchups against the Wolves, including a sweep last season in which they shut out WestConn in both games of the twinbill.