University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Charlotte
#22 Softball Completes Weekend Sweep Of Charlotte, 5-1
April 10, 2010 | Softball
April 10, 2010
AMHERST, Mass. - A three-run third inning and single runs in the fifth and sixth frames led No. 22 UMass softball (25-7) to a 5-1 victory and a weekend sweep of Charlotte (25-10) on a blustery Saturday afternoon at the UMass Softball Complex. Sara Plourde struck out 17 batters in a three-hitter and Meghan Carta had a two-run double to lead the way. The Minutewomen ran their winning streak to 10 games and remained undefeated and alone in first place in the Atlantic 10 standings at 8-0, while the 49ers fell to 4-2.
Plourde (24-5), coming off a no-hitter against the 49ers on Friday, did not allow a hit until the fourth inning and finished the game allowing one run on three hits and two walks with 17 strikeouts. It was her ninth game with 15 or more strikeouts this season as she raised her NCAA-leading total to 367, the third highest single-season total in UMass history behind Danielle Henderson in 1999 (465) and 1998 (430).
The run Plourde allowed in the sixth inning broke a 26-inning scoreless streak for the sophomore righthander.
After Michelle Libby led off the third inning with a single, Carly Normandin followed with a walk and the runners advanced on a fly out, setting up Kyllie Magill's sacrifice fly that brought in the game's first run. Two batters later, Carta made it a 3-0 game by blasting a double to left field that brought in to runs, giving the junior catcher 19 RBIs on the season.
The Minutewomen manufactured another run in the fifth inning. Magill drew a walk to lead off the inning, was bunted over by Katie Bettencourt, and after a walk to Carta, Sarah Reeves singled through the left side to bring in Magill and make it a 4-0 game. It was Reeves' team-leading 22nd RBI.
The 49ers got a run back in the top of the sixth inning. Lindsey Holloman led off with a double to right and Kendra McCall put runners on the corners with one out on an infield single for Serena Smith, who's fielder's choice drove in the 49ers lone run.
The Minutewomen tacked on another run in the bottom half of the sixth when after a one-out single by Normandin, the 49ers committed two-straight errors, one at second base and one in center field.
Katy Hacket (11-4) took the loss for Charlotte, going three innings and allowing three runs on four hits and three walks. Emily Jeffery pitched the final three innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits and three walks.
The Minutewomen hit the road for four games in the coming week, playing at Boston University on Tuesday (5 p.m.) and at UConn on Friday (4 p.m.) before heading to St. Bonaventure for an A-10 doubleheader on Sunday April 18 at noon.
