MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - UMass Boston Softball opened their season with a bang, plating four runs while holding Keystone College to just two to earn a 1-0 start to the 2024 season.

THE BASICS
UMass Boston 4, Keystone College 2

UMass Boston (1-0)
Keystone College (0-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED
A pair of rained out Saturday games left the Beacons with a bit of rust on Sunday as they committed an error on the games first hit to allow the Giants an early 1-0 advantage. 

The rust, however, was all gone by the second. Pitcher Bri Melchionda struck out the side in the top half of the inning and walked in the bottom. Though she hit into a double play in her first career at-bat, Hayley Krockta brought home Amauri English to tie the game at one.

Krockta's second RBI was much more highlight reel-worthy. A double to left field brought home Melchionda, who had reached first and stolen second after striking out two in the top, for a 2-1 lead.

In the fifth, Haley Tillberry's first hit after missing the entire 2023 season with a broken hand brought home freshman Ella Delisle to stretch the lead to 3-2.

The UMass Boston defense committed an error in the top of the sixth to grant the Giants a run, but limited the damage to protect the lead. That lead grew in the bottom of the inning when Krockta took advantage of a Keystone College error, scoring from first on a Lauren Bethea single.

Melchionda shut things down in the seventh inning, generating a pair of groundouts and her 10th strikeout to polish off her first complete game of the year.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Melchionda struck out 10 while allowing just one earned run in her seven innings of work
• Bethea and Delisle both provided two hits to the Beacons seven total
• UMass Boston softball is 4-1 in their last five season openers
• The Beacons own both of the all-time meetings between the two programs, both being played in the last two years

WHO'S NEXT
On Tuesday March 12, the Beacons will take on Morrisville State College and the College of New Jersey at 9 AM and 1 PM.