Softball Drops a Pair of Games to UMass Boston

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The visiting UMass Boston softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader with Bridgewater State University on Thursday afternoon at Alumni Park. The Beacons posted a 9-1 mercy rule victory in the opener and completed the sweep with a 7-1 win in game two.

The Beacons improve to 9-2 on the season, while the Bears, who have dropped ten straight, fall to 2-12. UMass now holds a 14-9 advantage in the all-time series including an 8-5 mark on the road.

Game One: UMass Boston 9, Bridgewater State 1 (5 Inn.)

Junior righthander Emily Doble (Danvers, Mass.) tossed a complete game to lead UMass to the 9-1 mercy rule victory in game one. Doble (3-2) allowed one run on six hits with a walk and five strikeouts.

The Beacons pushed across a pair of unearned runs in the top of the first on a two-run single by freshman shortstop Lauren Miner (Millbury, Mass.).

UMass tacked on three more runs in the top of the second to extend the lead to 5-0. Two of the runs were unearned due to a dropped foul ball. Senior centerfielder Sydney Sanden (Riverton, Conn.) knocked in the first run of the frame with an RBI single, while junior designated player Bri Melchionda (Marshfield, Mass.) added a sacrifice fly and senior second baseman Haley Tilberry (Moosic, Pa.) raced home on the back end of a double steal.

The Bears got on the board in the bottom of the second. Senior catcher Madison Dana (Lynn, Mass.) singled to lead off the frame and was replaced on the base paths by freshman pinch runner Kailey Collins-Fiore (LaGrange, N.Y.). After a sacrifice bunt, senior first baseman Olivia Silva (Somerset, Mass.) ripped an RBI single up the middle to cut the deficit to 5-1.

A four-run fourth inning highlighted by a pair of RBI doubles by Melchionda and sophomore right fielder Amauri English (North Providence, R.I.) upped the UMass lead to 9-1. Sanden and Miner also connected for RBI singles in the inning.

The Bears had a runner cut down at the plate and another doubled off second in the bottom of the fourth.

Sanden (2-3, R, 2RBI), Miner (2-3, R, 3RBI) and English (2-3, 2B, RBI) each recorded multiple hits for the Beacons.

Sophomore left fielder Emily Marcotte (North Dighton, Mass.) singled twice in three at bats to pace the BSU offense.

Sophomore righthander Tatiana Burcy (Hyde Park, Mass.) allowed eight runs, only four of which were earned, over 3 2/3 innings in the setback. Burcy (0-3) issued a pair of walks and struck out three. Junior righty Madelyn Klingel (Windsor, Conn.) gave up an unearned run on two hits in 1 2/3 innings of relief with no walks and three strikeouts.

Game Two: UMass Boston 7, Bridgewater State 1

Melchionda led UMass to the 7-1 victory in game two both in the circle and at the plate. The junior righthander went all seven innings allowing just one run on five hits with three walks and an impressive 14 strikeouts to earn her fifth win (5-0) of the season. Melchionda also went 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run, a double two runs and three RBI.

The Bears opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning. With one out, junior centerfielder Janet Jolly (Raynham, Mass.) tripled to the gap in right-centerfield and trotted home on an errant relay throw to third. One out later, sophomore second baseman Amelia Blake (Raynham, Mass.) lined a double to right-center and moved to third on an infield single by Marcotte. Blake, however, was cut down trying to score on the play.

UMass jumped ahead with a four-run fourth inning. Freshman left fielder Sofie Richland (South Burlington, Vt.) singled to lead off the inning and advanced to third when Tilberry, attempting to sacrifice, reached on a throwing error. A double steal knotted the score at 1-1, and Sanden followed with an RBI single to put the Beacons on top. After a double by Melchionda, Miner ripped a two-run double down the left field to extend the UMB lead to 4-1.

A three-run homer by Melchionda with two outs in the top of the fifth inning made it a 7-1 game. The home run marked her first of the season.

The Beacons banged out seven hits in game two and stole five bases. Miner doubled, walked, stole a base, and knocked in two runs in three plate appearances.

Marcotte registered two more hits for Bridgewater State as she singled twice to go along with a sacrifice bunt in three trips to the plate.

BSU sophomore righthander McKayla Cusack (West Haven, Conn.) retired the first nine batters she faced before running into trouble in the fourth inning. Cusack (1-3) allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits in three-plus innings with no walks and a pair of strikeouts.

The Bears travel to Wheaton College next Tuesday afternoon for a three o'clock twinbill with the Lyons. The Beacons host a doubleheader with Emmanuel College tomorrow afternoon also starting at three.