University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Offense Erupts In UMass Softball Sweep Over Rhode Island
April 28, 2009 | Softball
April 28, 2009
KINGSTON, R.I. - Coming off its first conference loss in almost three years, #24/19 UMass softball got back on track in a big way Tuesday afternoon, hitting seven home runs and piling up 21 runs in a doubleheader sweep at Rhode Island, 13-0 and 8-0, in a pair of five-inning games. Brandice Balschmiter pitched both shutout victories for the Minutewomen as they improve to 31-7 on the season and 13-1 in Atlantic 10 play. URI falls to 13-34 overall and 2-14 in the A-10.
Balschmiter (24-4) was in control in the circle all day, allowing just five hits and no runs in eight innings pitched over the two games. In game one, she went four innings, surrendering two hits while striking out eight. In game two, Balschmiter tossed four innings and struck out five while allowing three hits. The senior right-hander did not walk a batter all day while picking up victories #115 and #116 of her career, tying her for 17th in NCAA history.
Bailey Sanders came into to pitch scoreless fifth innings of both games.
Carly Normandin was UMass' top hitter, going 4-for-4 in game one with a single, a triple, a two-run home run, and a grand slam for a seven-RBI game, tying the UMass single-game record set by Sarah Reeves earlier this season. That extended the junior centerfielder's hitting streak to 23 games, but after an 0-for-1 performance with two walks and two runs scored in game two, her streak ended three shy of Barb Marean's school record of 27.
UMass jumped on the Rams early in game one, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning on a 2-RBI double by Sarah Reeves. That lead increased to 5-0 in the second inning on an RBI triple by Normandin followed by a two-run home run to right-center off the bat of Whitney Williams. The blast was the junior shortstop's fourth homer of the season.
The Minutewomen had their biggest inning in the third. After a strikeout, two singles and a walk set the table for Normandin, who lined reliever Jayshree Narendran's 2-2 pitched over the fence in right-center field for her second grand slam in less than a week, making it 9-0.
Audrey Boutin's solo home run to right-center in the fourth inning made it 10-0 and the Minutewomen tacked on three more in the fifth on a two-run shot down the right field line by Normandin, her second of the game, and a RBI single by Samantha Salato, making the score 13-0.
UMass' offense didn't take its foot off the pedal in game two, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning on a three-run home run to right-center off the bat of Mollica. It was the senior captain's fourth home run of the season and 26th of her career, tying her for fourth all-time at UMass.
Five more UMass runs would cross the plate in the second inning. Davina Hernandez led off the inning with her third home run of the season. Salato later hit a two-run single and in the next at-bat, Reeves hit a two-run home run into the teeth of the wind to left field for her ninth homer of the season, making it 8-0.
The Minutewomen return to action on Thursday, when they kick off a regular season-ending homestand by hosting Connecticut at 5 p.m. It will be Kids Club Day at the UMass Softball Complex, with all kids 12 and under being admitted for free and all concessions just $1.
