University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
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Kansas
#25 Softball Tops Kansas, Falls To San Diego State
March 19, 2010 | Softball
March 19, 2010
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The No. 25 UMass softball team jumped out to a big lead and hung on for a 7-6 victory over Kansas in the opener and had a comeback of its own come up short in the nightcap, falling to host San Diego State, 2-1, on day one of the San Diego Classic II on Thursday. The Minutewomen continue play on Friday with a pair of games at the University of San Diego, against Illinois-Chicago at 5 p.m. ET and the host USD Toreros at 7:30 p.m.
Sara Plourde (11-3) was strong once again for UMass in the circle, allowing just two earned runs and striking out 24 in 12 2/3 innings pitched over the two games. The sophomore fanned 15 in 6 2/3 innings of work against the Jayhawks to get the win and struck out nine in a four-hitter against the Aztecs to take the loss.
Carly Normandin, Katie Bettencourt, and Whitney Williams led the Minutewomen at the plate, each finishing the day with three hits. Michelle Libby hit her team-leading fourth home run of the season in the win over Kansas.
The Minutewomen carried a 7-1 lead into the top of the seventh in the first game, but the Jayhawks drew four-straight walks with one out off reliever Bailey Sanders, resulting in two runs to come in and score. That prompted Plourde to return to the game, but Kansas put together three-straight singles for three more runs, making it a 7-6 game. Plourde struck out the final two batters however to seal the win.
Game two against the Aztecs went down to the wire as well. The Minutewomen trailed 2-0 through five innings, as SDSU starter Samantha Beasley had allowed just one hit, a Teea Rogers single, but they got to her in the sixth. Kyllie Magill reached base on a fielder's choice following a Normandin single, setting up a Bettencourt infield single with two outs that preceded a single up the middle by Libby to score Magill with UMass first run, making it 2-1. Meghan Carta had an infield single with one out in the seventh and Williams singled to right with two outs, but Bailey Micetich, who entered in relief, got Normandin to ground out to first to end the game.
UMass' big run against Kansas in game one was a four-run second inning. Williams started the scoring with a RBI double down the right field line and Bettencourt added a RBI single, while two other runs scored on Kansas errors. Libby hit her solo shot to left field to lead off the fifth and Bettencourt finished the UMass scoring with a RBI double to left center.
The Minutewomen out-hit its opponent in each game, 10-9 against Kansas, and 6-4 against San Diego State.
