ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – The St. Bonaventure University softball team dropped a three-game Atlantic 10 series to Massachusetts Friday and Saturday at Joyce Field.
The Minutewomen and Bonnies battled in game one with UMass coming out on top, 9-5. UMass grabbed game two, 12-0, and then the series finale Saturday, 10-2.
Game 1 – Massachusetts 9, St. Bonaventure 5
The Bonnies struck first in game one when Kennedy Haberl reached on an infield single, scoring Grace Walker from second.
The Minutewomen, however, registered eight unanswered runs to take a commanding lead.
UMass tied the game in the top of the third with an RBI single and then a few batters later took its first lead, 3-1, after a two-run double off the bat of Bella Pantoja.
A five-run top of the fourth by way of a home run, a double and a single put the Minutewomen ahead for good.
Down six in the bottom of the fifth, the Bonnies looked to rally as Kymora Wang brought the first run of the inning to score followed by an Olivia Moon sacrifice fly, making it an 8-4 ballgame. Elyse Graham capped off the scoring in the fifth with he second RBI of the contest.
That is as close as the Bonnies would get as Massachusetts tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh, earning the victory.
Tori McGraw scattered just four hits in 4.0 innings of relief for the Brown and White.
Game 2 – Massachusetts 12, St. Bonaventure 0
Massachusetts posted a six-run top of the second and never looked back in game two.
A home run, a single and a fielder's choice allowed the Minutewomen to tack on three more runs in the top of the third, making it a 9-0 game.
UMass added three more runs in the fifth, earning the doubleheader sweep.
Game 3 – Massachusetts 10, St. Bonaventure 2
The Minutewomen grabbed the first run of the contest in the top of the second on a solo home run off the bat of Lydia Castro.
The Bonnies, however, answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the second to take their first lead of the game.
Eleanor Park kicked off the inning with a double down the left field line. Elyse Graham followed her up with a double of her own, scoring Park from second. Graham ended the play at third following an error on the Massachusetts infield.
Reanna Perkins brought home Graham from third with a sacrifice fly, making it a 2-1 ballgame.
UMass answered with a run in the top of the third when Chloe Whittier tripled home Payge Suggs from second. The Minutewomen retook the lead on the next play when Pantoja singled home Whittier. Castro's double in the top of the third plated the third UMass run of the inning, pushing the visitors ahead, 4-2.
A six-run top of the fourth for Massachusetts put the game out of reach for the Brown and White.
The Bonnies are back in action Wednesday, April 3 when they host Little Three rival Niagara.
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