April 8, 2012

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

OLEAN, N.Y. - Sara Plourde couldn't do much wrong on this particular Sunday. The senior tossed a perfect game, hit a pair of home runs and drove in six to lead Massachusetts past St. Bonaventure in a doubleheader sweep at McGraw-Jennings Field.

UMass (19-11, 6-0 Atlantic 10) moved into sole possession of first place in the league standings with a 10-0 five-inning win in game one and an 8-2 triumph in game two.

Plourde (18-9) picked up both victories as she struck out 24 while allowing three walks, one hit and a pair of unearned runs.

The first contest saw her strike out 10 as she collected her second solo perfect game and the 13th in UMass history. It also marked her fourth no-hitter of the year and 13th in her career. She struck out the side in the first and third as she fanned eight of the first nine Bonnies.

It wasn't without some exciting plays that kept the fans on the edge of their seats. Cyndil Matthew made a pair of running catches in left field and Teea Rogers backhander of a ground ball at third were both plays that were not routine by most players? standards.

On offense, UMass scored one in the first and added six in the second when it sent 11 batters to the plate. The Minutewomen strung together seven-consecutive hits, including a 3-run shot by Plourde over the fence in left that increased the lead to 7-0.

In the second game, UMass didn't waste any time getting things started as the visitors posted six runs on five hits in the first. Plourde blasted another 3-run homer, which was followed four batters later by a Tiffany Meeks 3-run homer.

The Minutewomen added to their lead with single runs in the second and sixth before the Bonnies pushed two unearned runs across in the home half of the sixth.

Other strong performances by UMass players included 3-hit days by Katie Bettencourt, Quianna Diaz-Patterson, Kyllie Magill and Rogers.

St. Bonaventure saw its record move to 14-14 overall and 4-4 in league play,

UMass will return to action with a pair of midweek games, hosting Connecticut on Tuesday at 4 p.m. before making a road trip to Boston University on Thursday at 4 p.m.