University of Massachusets Athletics

UMass Softball Sweeps Saint Louis In Battle For A-10 Lead
April 05, 2009 | Softball
April 5, 2009
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
AMHERST, Mass. - In a battle of Atlantic 10 softball unbeatens, #23/18 UMass (20-6, 6-0 A-10) took over first-place in the standings with a doubleheader sweep of Saint Louis (13-21, 6-2 A-10), 8-0 and 3-1, at the UMass Softball Complex on Sunday afternoon. Brandice Balschmiter recorded a 12-strikeout two-hitter in game one, while Sara Plourde kept her record perfect by pitching the Minutewomen to victory in game two. Carly Normandin continued to be red-hot at the plate, going 5-for-7 with a home run and three doubles on the day. With the victories, the Minutewomen run their A-10 winning streak to 44 games and their regular season home winning streak to 46 games.
Senior hurler Balschmiter (14-4) recorded her fourth double-digit strikeout game of the season in game one, fanning 12 and not giving up a walk. Every batter she faced she struck out at least once. She allowed only two hits in the 106th victory of her career. She now needs just three wins to break Danielle Henderson's UMass record for career wins.
In the bottom of the second, Normandin hit a two-out, three-run blast to center field, tallying her fourth home run of the season. She scored Michelle Libby and Davina Hernandez who had walked to put the Minutewomen up 3-0. UMass wasn't finished, as Kyllie Magill would reach on an error and Whitney Mollica would record an infield single, putting runners on the corners for Samantha Salato. The senior leftfielder delivered with a RBI single to center field, scoring Magill and giving the Minutewomen a 4-0 lead.
Jessica Serio made a statement with her first hit in conference play as she smacked a solo shot to right center in the bottom of the third. With her third round-tripper of the season, the catcher put the Minutewomen up 5-0.
The Minutewomen struck again in the bottom of the fourth. Normandin reached on an error by second baseman Kerri Dockins, then stole her ninth base of the season. Magill hit a frozen rope that dropped just in front of the centerfielder for a RBI double to make the score 6-0. Magill was able to score on a hard hit ball to the shortstop, giving Salato her team-leading 27th RBI of the season and the Minutewomen a 7-0 lead.
Game one ended in the fifth as Libby and Serio hit back-to-back doubles for the eighth UMass run.
Freshman Plourde (5-0) got the nod in the circle in game two. She went six innings, allowing one run on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
Saint Louis took the lead in the second inning on a solo homer by Katie Johns. It was Johns' first home run of the season and only the 22nd homer ever allowed by the Minutewomen at the UMass Softball Complex. It was the first home run surrendered by Plourde in her career.
UMass answered in the bottom half of the inning with two outs as Hernandez doubled to left field and Whitney Williams hit her second home run of the season to right center, giving the Minutewomen a 2-1 lead.
Sarah Reeves added to the UMass total in the third, as she brought in Mollica with a RBI single to left center. Mollica had singled through the left side and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Salato. The hit gave Reeves her 20th RBI of the season.
Balschmiter came in to toss a perfect seventh to record her first save of the season and give UMass the 3-1 victory.
The Minutewomen travel to Chestnut Hill Wednesday, April 8 to take on the Eagles from Boston College. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.