March 28, 2009

Box Score

AMHERST, Ma. - Massachusetts scored six runs in the bottom of the second inning to down the St. Bonaventure softball team 10-2 in five innings on Saturday afternoon at the UMass Softball Complex.

With the defeat, the Brown and White fall to 2-16 overall and 0-4 in Atlantic 10 play. No. 22/18 ranked Massachusetts, on the other hand, keeps on rolling along as it has won four straight to improve its record up to 15-6 and 4-0 in league play.

The UMass bats came out ready to go early against St. Bonaventure starter Erin Nargi. The Minutewomen got on the board first, in the bottom of the first, when leadoff hitter Carly Normandin hit a single into right field and stole second to move into scoring position. She would come all the way around to make score 1-0 when Nargi threw away a sacrifice bunt attempt away to give up the unearned run.

Massachusetts would put the game away in the second inning when they put up a six-spot off of Nargi. After a leadoff walk to junior Michelle Libby and a single by Meghan Carta, senior Davina Hernandez guided a ball through the right side of the infield off Nargi to make the score 2-0. Nargi would get herself in big trouble when she would hit two UMass players, the second of which forced in a run to make the score 3-0. Hernandez would come in score next when Nargi uncorked a wild pitch to put UMass up 4-0. With the bases loaded and two outs, senior Samantha Salato hit a triple to deep centerfield to clear the bases and open up a 7-0 UMass lead

The Bonnies would try to comeback in the top of the fourth, when freshman Kristin Sullivan and senior Kathryn Pazda each smacked singles to give the Brown and White runners on first and second with one out. Sophomore Kara Morenus would step up with two outs and crush a double to left center to bring home both runners to make the score 7-2.

UMass would come right back, however, in the bottom of the frame to score three more insurance runs to make the score 10-2.

Nargi lasted only one and two-thirds innings for the Bonnies, allowing six earned runs on four hits and two walks allowed to take the loss.

Freshman Sara Plourde pitched all five innings for Massachusetts giving up just the two earned runs on three hits while striking out 12 to earn the win.

St. Bonaventure will be back in action tomorrow, Sunday, March 29, when they travel to Rhode Island to play a doubleheader against the Rams. The first game is scheduled for a 12:00 p.m. start.