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Stifling Defense Lifts No. 20 UMass Softball Over Fordham 2-0 In A-10 Quarterfinals
May 8, 2008
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Behind a stifling defensive showing, the 20th-ranked Massachusetts Softball team (37-11) defeated Fordham (34-29) 2-0 in the quarterfinals of the 2008 Atlantic 10 Championship in Charlotte, N.C. Thursday. Sophomore Jessica Serio went 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI as the Minutewomen move into the A-10 Semifinals. Top-seeded UMass will play No. 3 seed Charlotte on Friday at 2 p.m. It was a pitchers duel between UMass pitcher Brandice Balschmiter and Fordham hurler Nicole Ayers as both held the opposition scoreless through three innings of play. The Rams attempted to go on top in the top of the fourth with a runner on second. Fordham's Meghan Shager drop a single into left field bringing the runner home from second but a laser throw by UMass left fielder Lauren Proctor one-hopped to Serio at home who made the bang-bang play at the plate for the out, eliminating the run.
UMass would make its push in the bottom of the inning. With two outs in the bottom of the fourth and sophomore Jill Andrews on second, freshman Lindsay Maroney came through in the clutch with a single to left field scoring Andrews for the 1-0 lead. The 2008 A-10 Rookie of the Year came into the game with a .448 two-out batting average and added to that with her clutch performance. UMass tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth on a RBI double to left center by Serio, scoring junior Samantha Salato from second for a 2-0 lead and the eventual win. Balschmiter pitched a complete-game shutout with three strikeouts, but more importantly was backed up by a solid defense that made some fantastic plays for the Minutewomen for their 20th shutout of the season. |
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