North Myrtle Beach, S.C. – The UMass Boston softball team (10-0) demonstrated dominance during their annual Spring Break trip, concluding their final two games against the Mount Aloysius Mounties (2-6) and the University of Maine – Farmington Beavers (2-6) to finish their season-opening road swing undefeated through 10 games before heading back to Boston.
The Beacons were victorious 3-1 against the Mounties in game one, recording seven hits to take care of business. In game two against the Beavers, the Beacons put up eight unanswered runs on 12 hits in a shutout performance, their seventh in the first ten games this season.
Game One vs. Mount Aloysius (3-1)
Alexis Fleischer (San Diego, Calif.) started game one on the mound and pitched five innings. She faced 18 batters, struck out two, and allowed just one hit. Izzy Levasseur (Amesbury, Mass.) closed the final two innings against six batters, shutting out Mount Aloysius with zero runs and zero hits to seal the victory.
It was a low-scoring contest against the Mounties. The Beacons added two runs on two hits and an error in the first inning, and an additional insurance run in the fourth to secure the 3-1 win after seven frames.
In the first inning, Lauren Miner (Millbury, Mass.) drove in the game's first run with an RBI single to right-center field, scoring Haley Tilberry (Moosic, Penn.) from second. Tilberry had reached base with a one-out double. Miner later came around to score on Amauri English's (North Providence, R.I.) grounder to short.
In the fourth inning, Mary Matthews (Wilsonville, Ore.) recorded a one-out double to left field, and later scored on Levasseur's single to right field for the final UMass Boston run of game one.
By the Numbers:
- Tilberry and Miner were each 2-3 with one run scored. Miner recorded one of the three Beacons' RBIs, joining Levasseur and English as the primary sluggers in the victory.
- Tilberry, Miner, and Matthews each scored one of the Beacons' three runs as crucial baserunners.
- In 26 at-bats, the Beacons struck out only three times.
- Tilberry and Matthews each recorded extra-base hits with doubles.
- Miner (2) led all runners on the base paths with stolen bases, joined by Sofie Richland (South Burlington, Vt.) and Tilberry, who each recorded one stolen base.
- Fleischer improves to an undefeated 2-0 this season, and Levasseur earns her second save in her fourth career appearance.
Game Two vs. The University of Maine – Farmington (8-0)
Bri Melchionda (Marshfield, Mass.) pitched all seven innings against the Beavers. She faced 25 total batters in a shutout performance, allowing just two hits with six strikeouts in the Beacons' seventh shutout in their first 10 games.
The Beacons struck first in the top of the first inning, adding two runs on one hit and one error. Miner laid down a bunt single that allowed Richland to score safely. Miner stole both second and third base before advancing home on a wild pitch to make it 2-0 at the end of the inning.
In the third, Tilberry, Miner, and English singled to load the bases for Hayley Krockta (Taunton, Mass.). Krockta made perfect contact to send one well over the center field fence for her second career home run and first career grand slam. Krockta's slam gave the Beacons a 6-0 advantage with more than three innings remaining. Matthews singled to short, stole second, and was later scored on Cosette Zito's (Woodbridge, Conn.) RBI single up the middle.
UMass Boston added a final run in the top of the seventh inning to seal the deal. Mackenzie Cahill (Abington, Mass.) pinch-hit for Matthews in the seventh and reached first on an error by the Beavers' pitcher. She was later brought in to score off Avery Weinstein's (Winnetka, Ill.) RBI single, concluding the Beacons' 2025 Spring Break trip on a high note.
By the Numbers:
- Matthews and Miner led the way for the Beacons offensively with three hits each. Miner added two runs and an RBI in four trips, and Matthews added a run scored in a perfect 3-3 day at the plate in game two.
- Krockta led all UMass Boston sluggers with four RBIs from her third-inning grand slam.
- Eight total Beacons recorded one or more hits.
- UMass Boston was 12-35 at the plate as a team with seven total RBIs.
- Miner led all baserunners with four stolen bases, followed by Matthews with two and Richland and Cahill with one apiece.
- Melchionda's pitching record improves to an undefeated 3-0 to begin this season.
The Beacons' softball team ships back to Boston for their home-opening doubleheader against the Emmanuel College Saints on Wednesday (March 26) at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. from the UMass Boston Softball Field.
