BOSTON, MA (March 12, 2024)— The UMass Boston softball team put up 10 hits against the Mustangs of Southern University of New York Morrisville State in a 11-3 victory from North Myrtle Beach in their first of two matchups on Tuesday.

Graduate pitcher Jacqueline Cherry pitched all five innings on the mound for the Beacons, facing 24 batters on 69 pitches, allowing three runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. Sophomore outfielder Sofie Richland led the team in runs scored with three, followed by first-year Gracie Granger, and first-year Mya Perron each came around to score twice for UMass Boston.
Richand went 2-3 from the plate with a double, while Perron swung home a team-high three RBIs. Graduate infielder Haley Tilberry went 1-2 from the plate with two RBIs, as the Beacons went 10-23 from the plate as a team versus the Mustangs.

The Beacons took to the plate in the bottom of the first inning and immediately got to work with the bats. Richland led things off with a single toward the shortstop, who later came around to score off Tilberry's grounder. The Beacs ended the bottom of the first with the one run on the one hit with one runner left on base.

The following inning the Beacons increased the heat to another level, earning three runs on four hits to extend their early lead to four just two full innings into the contest. Junior catcher  Kaitlyn Sawyer got things going with a single back towards the mound, as she later came around to score on a triple by Perron, as Perron parlayed her triple into a run following a Mustang error. Richand would keep the rally going with a double, and later come home to score following Tilberry's single to second.

Cherry proved strong through her first three, only allowing one hit for the Mustangs in the early innings.

The Beacons added an additional three runs to bolster their lead in the bottom of the third to 6-0 over the Mustangs. Senior third basemen Lauryn Bethea kickstarted the inning with a drive up the middle for a base knock. Bethea was pushed forward by sophomore Lauren Miner. Perron's single to right was enough to score both Bethea and Miner to give the Beacs an extra cushion.
The Mustangs were able to respond in the top of the fourth inning with a run of their own, tallying  three runs on as many hits to cut the deficit in half heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, with the Beacons up 6-3.

The bottom of the fifth inning saw the Beacons run away with control, as they added five runs on only two hits off three errors by the Mustangs. Senior Bri Melchionda recorded the first RBI of the inning with a single to shortstop that would be enough to score Sawyer, and junior Mackenzie Cahill from second and third base. Perron would later score from third on a pass ball to make the score 9-3. First-year Ella Delisle added another run with an RBI single towards third that would score Richland, followed by the final run of the game scored by Granger following Miner's walk off a hit-by-pitch to conclude the game 11-3.

The Beacons' next softball matchup takes place today, Tuesday March 12 at 1:00 p.m. vs. The College of New Jersey from North Myrtle Beach. Live stats and video coverage can be found at UMass Boston - Official Athletics Website (beaconsathletics.com).