MANSFIELD, Conn. (May 11, 2025) – On Mother's Day morning, in a thrilling winner-take-all Game Eleven of the 2025 Little East Conference Softball Tournament, the UMass Boston Beacons (32-11-1) secured their third LEC Postseason Championship with a dramatic walk-off double from first-year standout Mary Matthews (Wilsonville, Ore.) to defeat the Plymouth State Panthers (28-16), 5-4 in eight innings.

With the victory, the Beacons punched their ticket to the 2025 NCAA Division III Softball National Championship, beginning Thursday, May 15, with regional play and running through the finals on June 4 at Inspiration Field in Bloomington, IL. This marks UMass Boston's third NCAA appearance in program history and its first since 2018.

Bri Melchionda (Marshfield, Mass.), the Beacons' ace, took the ball in the season's biggest game, striking out 10 over five innings against 27 batters. She handed the reins to Jacqueline Cherry (Franklin, Mass.), who delivered a dominant two-inning, no-hit, shutout relief performance to preserve the tie and set up the walk-off heroics.

For her efforts throughout the tournament, Melchionda was named the 2025 LEC Tournament Most Outstanding Player. The graduate right-hander was dominant in the circle across the Beacons' five games, finishing with a 1.56 earned run average through 26.0 innings, and with 29 punch-outs, including 10 in the championship finale. Offensively, Melchionda tallied six hits in 17 at-bats (.352) with six RBIs and two doubles. 

How It Happened

• Plymouth State struck first with an RBI double in the opening frame, but Melchionda bounced back with two strikeouts to end the inning.

• In the bottom half, UMass Boston responded quickly. After being hit by a pitch, Melchionda scored on an infield single from Hayley Krockta (Taunton, Mass.) that forced an errant throw. Lauren Miner (Millbury, Mass.) followed with an RBI double to left, scoring Krockta and giving the Beacons a 2-1 lead.

• The Panthers reclaimed the advantage in the top of the fifth, stringing together two RBI singles as part of a three-run frame to move ahead 4-2.

• The Beacons were held scoreless in the fifth and sixth, but staged a dramatic seventh-inning comeback. With one out, Ella Delisle (Amesbury, Mass.) roped a double down the left field line. Down to their final strike, Haley Tilberry (Moosic, Penn.) delivered in the clutch, driving a game-tying RBI single through the right side to force extra innings.

• In the bottom of the eighth, Miner worked a leadoff walk and moved to second on Amauri English's (North Providence, R.I.) sacrifice bunt. That brought up Matthews, who smashed a line drive double down the left field line, sealing the win and sending the Beacons pouring out of the dugout in celebration.

By the Numbers

• Seven different Beacons recorded a hit, with RBIs from Tilberry, Miner, English, and Matthews.

• UMass Boston collected three doubles in the win, courtesy of Miner, Delisle, and Matthews.

• The Beacons struck out just once in 30 at-bats, showcasing plate discipline under pressure.

• Melchionda and Cosette Zito (Woodbridge, Conn.) each tallied a stolen base.

UMass Boston will await its seeding in the 64-team NCAA Division III Championship during the selection show on Monday, May 12, at 11:00 a.m. on NCAA.com.

Stay tuned as the Beacons prepare to make their mark on the national stage!

On behalf of UMass Boston Athletics, congratulations to your 2025 LEC Softball Tournament Champions. Best of luck in the NCAA Tournament!

--FIND A WAY--