University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Florida
Florida Gators Hold Off Minutewomen, 4-3
March 11, 2000 | Softball
March 11, 2000
UMass 000 000 3 - 3 6 0
Florida 010 003 x - 4 9 3
Hadley, Holtz (6) and Faessler. Deiter, Landry (7) and Marino. W - Dieter (10-1). L - Hadley (1-5). S - Landry. 2B - Wheeler, Pinkerton, Marino and Boone. HP - (By Landry) Faessler. Attendance - 147. Time - 2:00.
TAMPA, Fla. - Sophomore Cherra Wheeler (Kingsburg, Calif.) hit a two-run double in the top of the seventh, but the Minutewomen fell one run short in a late inning rally, dropping a 4-3 heartbreaker to the University of Florida on Saturday night at the Speedline Invitational. The Minutewomen drop to 4-13 on the season, while the Gators improved to 22-9 this season.
The Gators went ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning, getting two hits in the inning off UMass starter Jennifer Hadley (Bristol, Conn.). Jennifer Mossadeghi led off the inning with a single, advancing to second on a groundout and to third on a wild pitch. Andrea Zimbardi followed with a run-scoring groundout to UMass shortstop Emily Robustelli (Stamford, Conn.).
Florida extended their lead to 4-0 in the botttom of the sixth inning. After the gators led off the inning with a double and a single, Ashley Boone roped a double to the left-center gap, scoring both Florida baserunners. Zimbardi followed with a single, knocking in Boone for the fourth and final Gator run of the game.
The Minutewomen rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh, but stranded two runners to end the game. Freshman Anna Perey (Chino Valley, Ariz.) reached on a fielder's choice, then advanced to second on a single by Robustelli. Sophomore Teri Rooney (Visalia, Calif.) followed with an RBI single, scoring Perey. With two outs, Wheeler knocked in Robustelli and Rooney with a drive into the left-center gap. The Gators countered by bringing in Renise Landry, relieving starting pitcher Beth Dieter. Landry proceeded to hit UMass catcher Nikki Faessler (Milford, Mass.) after she fouled off a number of Landry pitches with two strikes. With two runners on and two out, Landry struck out UMass outfielder Kiley Scofield (Murietta, Calif.) to end the UMass rally and ensure a Florida victory.
Hadley took the loss for the Minutewomen, dropping to 1-5 on the season. Dieter earned the win for the Gators, giving up six hits and striking out five in six and two-thirds innings, improving to 10-1. Landry picked up her first save this season for the Gators.
The Minutewomen were eliminated from tournament play with the loss. UMass will return to action on Monday in Tampa, taking on the University of Illinois-Chicago at the South Florida University softball complex. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
