University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Saint Louis
UMass Uses Big Offense To Sweep Saint Louis
March 25, 2012 | Softball
March 25, 2012
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Quianna Diaz-Patterson and Sara Plourde each hit two home runs and Massachusetts was perfect in the field to collect a pair of shutouts in a sweep of Saint Louis in the Atlantic 10 opener at the Billiken Sports Center on Sunday.
UMass improved to 13-10 overall and 2-0 in A-10 play. Saint Louis falls to 14-18 and 1-3.
Plourde was dominant in the circle as she struck out 20 while allowing just three base runners to reach scoring position as she improved to 12-8 on the year. She also ran her career strikeout total to 1,337, leaving her just seven shy of the UMass career mark, set by Danielle Henderson from 1996-99.
Diaz-Patterson collected a team-high three hits on the day. Her two-run triple in the third inning of the first game, gave the Minutewomen some breathing room and pushed their lead to 3-0. She eventually scored to make it 4-0 UMass before Plourde led off the fourth with a solo blast to centerfield to account for the 5-0 UMass win.
It didn't take long for the bats to get going in game two. Katie Bettencourt's double in the first drove in Cyndil Matthew for an early 1-0 lead. Diaz-Patterson went deep to center in the third to extend the margin to 2-0.
The Minutewomen scored five in the fourth to put the game out of reach. Highlighting the frame was a two-run blast by Plourde followed four batters later by a three-run shot from Diaz-Patterson. Teea Rogers drove in Christine Della Vecchia to push the lead to the run-rule window of 8-0.
Matthews, Plourde, Rogers and Lindsey Webster all collected two hits on the day.
UMass will open its home schedule this week with a four-game homestand, beginning Tuesday against Dartmouth. First pitch at the UMass Softball Complex is set for 3 p.m.
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