North Myrtle Beach, S.C. (March 16, 2025) – The Beacons' softball team (4-0) continues their Spring Break trip with a Sunday sweep against the University of Mount Saint Vincent (0-1), and Oswego State (1-1) in two exciting performances.

The Beacons won game one against Mount Saint Vincent 8-0 in five innings, and went the distance with Oswego State, with Bri Melchionda (Marshfield, Mass.) tying a nine-year program record, and Mary Matthews (Wilsonville, Ore.) and Kyleigh Gray (Deerfield, N.H.) coming up clutch in the ninth to drive in two game-winning runs in extras to remain unbeaten.

Game One vs Mount Saint Vincent (8-0)
 
Jacqueline Cherry (Franklin, Mass.) started on the mound in game one, earning her second win of the season in three innings against 13 batters. She allowed three hits, zero runs scored, and struck out five batters. Alexis Fleischer (San Diego, Calif.) closed the final two scoreless innings, striking out two of the nine batters she faced, as she earns the save in her first appearance on the mound in 2025. The two combined to allow zero total runs in five innings with just six total hits from MSV.

Lauren Miner (Millbury, Mass.) drove in the Beacons' first two unanswered runs in the opening inning with a two-run RBI double through the left side, to score Haley Tilberry (Moosic, Penn.) and Sofie Richland (South Burlington, Vt.).

Hayley Krockta (Taunton, Mass.) drove in a third run in the third frame off an infield single to short, allowing Gracie Granger (Paxton, Mass.) to come across and score the Beacs' third run of the game, setting up a fourth inning rally.

In the fourth, the Beacons ended the frame up 8-0, following five runs on six UMass Boston hits. Granger opened the frame with a triple, and was scored from Tilberry's infield single to short. Miner laced another double through the left side to score Tilberry. Gray and Izzy Levasseur (Amesbury, Mass.) combined to score the final two runs of the rally with singles to left and center field.

Fleischer pitched a scoreless fifth inning allowing the Beacons to win in five innings on the run-rule mercy.

By the Numbers:

• Tilberry and Miner were each 2-3 at the plate, with Miner swinging for two doubles to record three RBIs and to score one run, and Tilberry scoring two runs while driving in another.
• Granger recorded a triple in her two trips to the plate.
• Tilberry adds a stolen base to her season totals in the win.

Game Two vs Oswego State (2-0)
 

Bri Melchionda (Marshfield, Mass.) pitched a masterclass performance in nine total innings, tying a nine-year program-record 15 strikeouts in a single game vs the Lakers of Oswego State. She faced 33 total batters, and allowed just three hits in a shutout performance.

Amauri English (North Providence, R.I.) recorded the first of five total hits for the Beacons with a single to center field in the second inning.

In the top of the ninth inning, Melchionda reached on a fielder's choice. Natalia Fotopoulos (Arlington, Mass.) pinch ran for Melchionda, and later scored the game's opening run in extras off the double from Gray. Matthews stepped into a crucial game-winning triple to score Gray as an insurance run heading into the bottom of the ninth. Melchionda pitched a scoreless and hitless final frame for UMass Boston to emerge victorious.

The double from Gray and Triple from Matthews were the only RBIs recorded in the effort, and two of the five total Beacons' hits. Krockta, English, and Richland each tallied a hit before entering extras. Richland adds another career stolen base as the only Beacon to risk it on the basepath.

Melchionda improves to 2-0, and the Beacons improve to 4-0 following the second day of their Spring Break trip to South Carolina.

Who's Next:
UMass Boston takes Monday off before returning to play on Tuesday (Mar. 18) against Saint Joesphs University of Long Island at 11:00 a.m., and Hartwick College at 1:00 p.m.