MANSFIELD, Conn. – A pair of shutout losses against third-seeded University of Southern Maine and fifth-seeded Rhode Island College by scores of 2-0 and 3-0 on Wednesday afternoon, saw UMass Boston Softball's season come to a close as the Beacons bowed out from the double-elimination Little East Conference Tournament hosted by Eastern Connecticut State University at Clyde Washburne Field.
 
THE BASICS
 
UMass Boston 0, University of Southern Maine 2  
UMass Boston 0, Rhode Island College 3
 
UMass Boston (20-21)
University of Southern Maine (20-19)
Rhode Island College (18-18)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

Game 1: UMass Boston 0, University of Southern Maine 2
Much like their first matchup against one another, junior pitchers Bri Melchionda and Lauren Merrill, it would be a pitchers' duel in the circle. Both sides would escape some early inning trouble, first Melchionda in the second as two fielding errors by the left side of the infield put two Huskies on with one out before the junior came back to get a pair of fly outs to end the frame.

The patience of UMass Boston would be on display in the third inning as they would load the bases up on two walks and an infield single by freshman outfielder Sofie Richland against Merrill, looking to get on the board first. But the middle of the lineup would be retired by Merrill as she would get a fielder's choice at home by sophomore infielder Kaylee Bruce and groundout by senior outfielder Sydney Sanden to eliminate the threat.

Southern Maine struck for two runs in the third after a leadoff single and stolen base pushed freshman catcher Mackenzie Renner to second. Renner was seemingly doubled off at second on a tremendous leaping play at third base by freshman infielder Lauren Miner but was ruled safe and scored on junior pitcher Dory Kulis's RBI single to put the Huskies on the board. A two-out RBI single by senior outfielder Hannah Shields tacked on the second run of the frame for Southern Maine who was retired on senior first baseman Rona Scott's single at home to end the inning.

Back-to-back singles to lead off the fourth from Miner and junior infielder Lauryn Bethea but the Beacons in a position to tie the game back up, but junior pitcher Belle Snyder would come out of the bullpen to notch a pair of strike outs and a flyout as the Huskies maintained their 2-0 lead.  Snyder would continue her dominance of the mound over the final three innings for Southern Maine, allowing just two UMass Boston hitters to reach base to earn the victory with a total of four no-hit innings on 75 pitches while striking out six and walking two as the Beacons fell 2-0 and looked to stay alive against Rhode Island College in the final game of the day.
 
Game 2: UMass Boston 0, Rhode Island College 3
After being held scoreless in their first game of the day against Castleton University, Rhode Island College would jump on the scoreboard right away in the first inning as the first three Anchorwoman batters reached base via double by junior outfielder Avery Katz, a walk to sophomore infielder Amanda Conti, and then an RBI single from freshman infielder Noelle Simmons to make it a 1-0 game. An RBI groundout from senior catcher Alexis Boyce plated a second run for Rhode Island College against junior pitcher Emily Doble who closed the inning out, bringing the Beacons to the plate trailing 2-0.

The third inning would see the Anchorwomen tack on an insurance run against Doble on an RBI double from Simmons, giving Rhode Island College a 3-0 cushion while sophomore pitcher Abby Kidd did the rest. Kidd would retire the first nine Beacon batters she faced before Richland's infield single to open up the fourth. UMass Boston would put runners on second and third with two outs in that frame before the sophomore got Bethea to pop out on the infield.

After four scoreless innings of relief from Melchionda, the Beacons looked to rally in the seventh inning against Kidd and would end up loading the bases after a pair of singles and an error by the Anchorwomen with one out. However, UMass Boston would be unable to push across any runs as Kidd struck out senior catcher Tam Landry and senior infielder Jordan Toomey to keep the Anchorwomen alive in the LEC Tournament with a 3-0 win and end the 2023 campaign for the Beacons.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Bri Melchionda's game one performance against Southern Maine saw her go six innings, giving up two runs on six hits while striking out four and walking one on 87 pitches
• With hits in both games of the day, Sofie Richland has reached base safely via hit in 17 of the last 18 games she has played in
• Across both games, Lauren Miner was 3-for-6 with three singles, a stolen base, six putouts, and four assists
• UMass Boston finishes the 2023 season with an overall record of 20-21