University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Nebraska
Balschmiter & Normandin Lead Softball Past Nebraska, 3-0
February 27, 2009 | Softball
Feb. 27, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ga. - Brandice Balschmiter struck out six batter and scattered four hits while Carly Normandin was 3-for-3 with a two-run home run to lead #22/17 UMass softball to a 3-0 victory over Nebraska in the first game of the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga on Friday morning. After being delayed, UMass' game vs. Georgia has been rained out and will not be made up. The Minutewomen's next game will be Saturday at 4 p.m. vs. Mississippi State.
The Minutewomen got on the board in the bottom of the first. Whitney Williams was hit by a pitch and was bunted over to second base by Whitney Mollica. With two outs, Samantha Salato muscled an inside pitch into center field for a single that scored Williams with the games first run.
Nebraska had runners on second and third in the top of the sixth after an error and hit, but Balschmiter induced back-to-back groundballs to Williams at shortstop to get out of the jam.
UMass would carry that 1-0 lead until the bottom of the sixth. Jessica Serio worked a two-out walk, bring Normandin to the plate. The junior center fielder, who already had a bunt single and single to center field, drove a pitch deep over the fence in right-center for her first home run of the season, making it a 3-0 game.
