University of Massachusets Athletics
Balschmiter Leads Minutewomen Past Tennessee Tech, 6-1
March 10, 2006 | Softball
March 10, 2006
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Freshman Brandice Balschmiter (Newark, N.Y.) allowed just one run on four hits as Massachusetts (4-7) defeated Tennessee Tech (13-6), 6-1, Friday afternoon in the second day of pool play of the University of South Florida-adidas Spring Break Invitational.
Balschmiter ran into trouble in the first inning. An error, wild pitch and an infield single gave Tennessee runners at second and third with just one out. Balschmiter was able to get out of the jam with a strikeout and a come-backer.
After going 1-2-3 in the first inning, UMass scored twice in the bottom of the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. Freshman Whitney Mollica (Windham, N.H.) started off the frame with a double up the left-center field gap. Sophomore Lauren Proctor (La Jolla, Calif.) sacrificed freshman pinch runner Davina Hernandez (Bristol, Conn.) over to third base, but when TTU third baseman Kristina Dobbs booted the ball, everybody was safe. Two batters later, junior Amanda Morin (Worcester, Mass.) singled up the middle to drive Hernandez home with the first run of the game. Now with runners at the corners, the Minutewomen tried a double-steal. Tennessee Tech was able to throw out Morin at second base, but Proctor slid across the plate safely with the second run.
Pitching with a 2-0 lead, Balschmiter again ran into some trouble in the top of the third inning. The first two Tennessee Tech players reached via a walk and an error. Balschmiter was able to get out of this jam as well and the Minutewomen took their 2-0 lead into the bottom of the third inning.
UMass took advantage and added three runs to its lead in the bottom of the third inning, all after there were two outs. Senior Lesley Ferrara (Stamford, Conn.) led off the inning with a single and was pinch run for by junior Michea Holness (Beverly, Mass.). Two batters later, junior Candice Molinari (Glendora, Calif.) singled to left putting two on with one out. After senior KJ Kelley (Rainier, Ore.) popped out, Mollica came through again with a RBI single to right-center field. Proctor followed with a two-run double up the left-center field alley to drive in both Molinari and Mollica and make it a 5-0 game.
Tennessee Tech got one run back in the top of the fourth when Danielle Wallace took Balschmiter deep for a solo home run, but the Minutewomen offense continued to hit well in the bottom half of the frame. Morin led off with a double and scored two batters later when Ferrara roped a double off the fence in left-center field. It just missed being a home run by inches, but got UMass its run back. A double-play kept the Minutewomen from scoring any more, but they still led 6-1 heading to the fifth.
Both offenses were quiet for the next couple innings and Balschmiter came back out for the seventh and a chance to seal the UMass win.
UMass made an error, but Balschmiter was able to get out of the inning and UMass improved to 3-1 on the weekend. She scattered four hits and one walk while striking out six.
Mollica, Morin and Ferrara each had two hits for the Minutewomen.
Pool play of the USF-adidas Spring Break Invitational concludes tomorrow as UMass takes on Jacksonville at 11:00 AM. The championship rounds begin Saturday evening and continue through Sunday afternoon. All games from this tournament will be available on Gametracker at www.umassathletics.com.