KEENE, N.H. (April 22, 2025) – The Beacons softball team (26-5-1, 7-4-1 Little East Conference) made quick work of Keene State (15-13, 4-6 LEC) in game one before dropping a tightly contested defensive battle in game two during their LEC road doubleheader in Keene, N.H.
Senior Alexis Fleischer (San Diego, Calif.) threw a complete-game one-hit shutout in the opener, facing just 18 batters. A trio of Beacons each drove in two RBIs to power the five-inning mercy-rule win. First-year Mary Matthews (Wilsonville, Ore.) laced a triple and scored the lone run in game two.
Game One: UMB 9 – 0 KSC
Fleischer earned her fifth win of the season with a dominant one-hitter, backed by a flawless defensive effort.
How It Happened:
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After a quiet first inning, the Beacons exploded for five runs in the second, two in the third, and one in each of the final two innings to end it early via the eight-after-five mercy rule.
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Sofie Richland (South Burlington, Vt.) started the rally with a two-run single to left, followed by an RBI triple from Haley Tilberry (Moosic, Pa.) and an RBI double from Bri Melchionda (Marshfield, Mass.).
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Melchionda drove in another run in the third with a single through the right side, scoring Richland.
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Matthews and Hayley Krockta (Taunton, Mass.) capped off the scoring with RBI doubles in the fourth and fifth.
By the Numbers:
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Richland,Melchionda, and Tilberry each finished with two RBIs, accounting for six of UMB's nine runs.Krockta, Lauren Miner (Millbury, Mass.), and Matthews tallied the remaining RBIs.
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Melchionda was a perfect 4-for-4 with two doubles and a stolen base. Krockta, Miner, and Matthews also added doubles. Avery Weinstein (Winnetka, Ill.) chipped in with two sacrifice hits.
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The win marked UMass Boston's 12th shutout and mercy-rule victory of the season.
Game Two: UMB 1 – 2 KSC
Jacqueline Cherry (Franklin, Mass.) went the distance in game two, tossing a complete seven innings and striking out seven in a low-scoring pitchers' duel.
The Beacons tallied five hits, including a triple from Matthews and a sacrifice fly Ella Delisle from (Amesbury, Mass.) for UMB's only RBI. Offensively, the team remained sharp with just two strikeouts in 25 at-bats.
Melchionda, Delisle, Matthews, Amaya Rodriguez (Indio, Calif.), and Weinstein recorded hits in game two.
What's Next:
UMass Boston continues its road swing Thursday in Dudley, Mass., with a non-conference doubleheader against Nichols College. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 3:00 p.m., followed by game two at approximately 5:00 p.m.
--FOR THE TIMES--