North Myrtle Beach, S.C. (March 18, 2025) – The UMass Boston softball team (8-0) recorded their fourth-consecutive sweep over the University of Maine Presque Isle Owls (1-5) and the Oswego State Lakers (3-4) on their fourth day of Spring Break action. The Beacons were victorious 22-3 over the UMPI Owls, marking their fifth victory via the run-rule, as they continue their hot streak to begin 2025.
Game One vs. the University of Maine Presque Isle Owls (22-3)
First-year Izzy Levasseur (Amesbury, Mass.) picked up her first career win on the mound in the first start of her collegiate career. She pitched all five innings of action against 23 batters, striking out six of the 23 total batters she faced.
The Beacons took to the plate in the first inning with a purpose, driving in 11 of their 22 total runs in the first inning. UMass Boston spun eight hits and three errors in the first frame into 11 runs and scored another 10 on just two hits and three UMPI errors in the second inning.
Amauri English (North Providence, R.I.) scored the game's first run with an RBI single, scoring Haley Tilberry (Moosic, Penn.) and advancing Lauren Miner (Millbury, Mass.) to third. Hayley Krockta's (Taunton, Mass.) first at-bat drew a double to score both Miner and English. Amaya Rodriguez (Indio, Calif.) ripped a two-run RBI triple to keep the rally going, scoring both Krockta and Mary Matthews (Wilsonville, Ore.). Rodriguez, Sofie Richland (South Burlington, Vt.), and Gracie Granger (Paxton, Mass.) each scored on errors to further the advantage. The final two RBIs came from English's triple to score Miner and Krockta's single to score English, as the Beacons totaled 11 runs in the first frame to spring out to a massive lead.
The Beacons scored 10 additional runs in the second inning to take their largest lead in a game this season (21-0). The majority of second-inning runs were scored on errors and walks. Five second-inning runs came via BBs (walks), with Granger, Natalia Fotopoulos (Arlington, Mass.), Miner, Matthews, and Ella Delisle (Amesbury, Mass.) each driving in a run by taking four pitches outside the zone with the bases loaded. Cosette Zito (Woodbridge, Conn.) added an RBI single that scored Delisle. Rodriguez reached on an error to bring home Miranda Cuddy (Bridgewater, Mass.). First-year Avery Weinstein (Winnetka, Ill.) drove in the final run of the rally with an RBI single to left, scoring Delisle to make it 21-0 in favor of UMass Boston.
Weinstein added another RBI in the fourth inning, the Beacons' final of the contest, with a grounder to short that allowed Keira Howley (Abington, Mass.) to score, making it a dominant 22-3 lead heading into the fifth.
With UMass Boston up 19 heading into the sixth inning, the Beacons secured their fifth game via the run rule.
By the Numbers:
English and Krockta were both a perfect 2-2 at the plate, with English driving in two runs and Krockta tallying a team-high three RBIs. The duo both swung for extra bases, with Krockta lacing an RBI double and English driving in an RBI triple. Rodriguez joins Krockta with three RBIs in a 2-3 day at the plate in game one.
Tilberry, Matthews, Richland, and Delisle each stole a bag in the win, with Tilberry stealing a team-high two bases on the path.
The Beacons were 11-28 at the plate as a team, with only one recorded strikeout.
Miner, Matthews, and Delisle each scored three runs to combine for nine of the Beacons' 22 total runs.
Game Two vs. Oswego State (3-0)
Graduate Jacqueline Cherry (Franklin, Mass.) pitched all seven innings of action against the Lakers. She faced 27 batters, walked only two, struck out 12, and allowed just five hits in her fourth shutout performance in as many appearances this season.
The Beacons scored one run in the first, third, and fifth innings to edge out the Lakers for the second time this Spring Break trip.
Richland scored on the tag-up from third following Tilberry's sac-fly, taking a 1-0 lead in the early goings. Richland came across again on English's sac-fly in the third inning. The third and final RBI of the day came from English when she singled up the middle to score Tilberry from second.
Behind Cherry's shutout performance, the Beacons only needed the three runs they scored to emerge victorious in game two over the Lakers.
By the Numbers:
Richland led all Beacons at the plate with a team-high three hits in four trips. Richland scored two crucial runs out of the three total for the Beacons in game two.
English held a team-high two RBIs in two trips to the plate.
Richland and Bri Melchionda (Marshfield, Mass.) each tallied a hit for extra bases, with the duo combining for two doubles.
Richland and Tilberry each stole two bags.
Cherry improves to a still undefeated 4-0 to start the year.
The Beacons will play their final doubleheader from North Myrtle Beach tomorrow (Mar. 20) at 9:00 am vs. Mount Aloysius College and the University of Maine Farmington at 11:00 am. The Beacons softball team returns to Boston on Wednesday (Mar. 26) against Emmanuel College at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
—FOR THE TIMES—
