BOSTON, Mass. (March 22, 2024) – The UMass Boston Softball team picked up two non-conference wins over Bridgewater State University on Friday afternoon, sweeping Bridgewater State with 8-3 and 10-3 victories. With the wins, the Beacons improve to 12-1 (0-0 LEC), while the Bears fall to 7-8 (0-0 MASCAC).
UMass Boston returns to action on Monday, March 25 when they travel to cross-town opponents Emmanuel (MA) College for a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is set for 5:00 p.m.
Game 1
UMass Boston got on the board early and often, scoring six runs in the first three innings of play. Freshman Hayley Krockta and sophomore Lauren Miner would give the Beacons their first two runs in as many innings. UMass Boston would pile on another four runs in the third inning, with senior Bri Melchionda starting the scoring with an RBI triple to left field. Freshman Ella Delisle's two-RBI single to right field would give the Beacons a 6-0 lead.
The Bears would make it a three-run game in the top of the sixth with help from a two-RBI double from their shortstop Sydney Schaefer. The Beacons would tack on another two runs in the bottom of the sixth with senior Haley Tillberry and Krockta crossing the plate.
Along with her RBI triple, the LEC Pitcher of the Week, Melchionda, was lights out on the defensive side of the ball. The senior fanned 12 Bears in her seven innings of work. Out of those seven innings, she pitched six of them scoreless and only allowed one hit.
Game 2
The Beacons once again got on the board early, this time at the hands of an RBI ground ball from senior Lauryn Bethea to bring him Tillberry. The Bears would answer quickly and add on two more to give themselves their first lead of the day.
The Beacons would respond an inning later tying the game up at three a piece with an RBI single to right field from junior Kaitlyn Sawyer and an RBI double from freshman Gracie Granger.
UMass Boston kept their foot on the gas going into the bottom of the third inning, where they scored seven unanswered runs. Bethea got things started with a double to right field and was brought home one at-bat later at the hands of Krockta's RBI single to left field. This week's LEC rookie of the week, freshman, Mya Perron kept things going with an RBI single of her own. Junior Amauri English and Miner kept the rally going, both adding RBI singles of their own.
Graduate Jacqueline Cherry kept the red-hot pitching going in game two. Cherry struck out five bears and allowed only two hits in her six innings of work. After a three-run second inning, Cherry would go on to pitch four out of her five scoreless innings. This included back-to-back 1,2,3 innings in the fourth and fifth.
With the doubleheader sweep against the Bears, the Beacons' softball squad stays blistering hot to improve to 12-1 on the year, while increasing their current win streak to double digits, with their next opponent scheduled for Monday, March 25th as they travel to faceoff against the Saints of Emmanuel College from Boston, Massachusetts.
--BEACONS--
