University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Michigan State (FAU Parents' Weekend Tournament)
Softball Splits Day 2 Of FAU Parent's Weekend Tournament
March 18, 2006 | Softball
March 18, 2006
BOCA RATON, Fla. - Massachusetts (9-10) split its two games on the second day of the Florida Atlantic Parent's Weekend Tournament. In game one, freshman Whitney Mollica (Windham, N.H.) had a two-run single in the third inning as the Minutewomen defeated Michigan State (15-8), 2-1. Freshman Brandice Balschmiter (Newark, N.Y.) picked up the complete-game win for UMass. She allowed seven hits and struck out eight. In game two, UMass and Tennessee-Chattanooga went to extra innings scoreless. It looked like the Minutewomen were going to win when junior Amanda Acampora (Orange, Conn.) hit a two-out, three-run home run in the top of the eighth inning, but the Mocs scored four runs off Balschmiter in the bottom of the frame to win. This was the second time in a week that these two teams went to extra innings. UMass won last week at the USF-adidas Invitational 3-2 in 10 innings.
In the top of the first inning, Michigan State got a two-out single but Balschmiter was able to get a strikeout and get out of the game. UMass had two base runners in the bottom of the first inning but could not get a run against Michigan State pitcher Rachel Turney. Junior Amanda Morin (Worcester, Mass.) led off with a walk, but was thrown out trying to steal second. That turned out to be a big play as senior KJ Kelley (Rainier, Ore.) doubled to the wall in left-center field two batters later. Mollica struck out to end the threat.
Two straight infield singles gave the Spartans runners at first and second with just one out in the top of the third inning. Balschmiter was able to get out if the jam with a ground out and a strikeout and the game remained scoreless heading to the bottom of the third inning.
In the bottom of the third it was the Minutewomen's turn with runners on first and second with just one out. Senior Kristi Stefanoni (Columbus, N.J.) worked a four-pitch walk and then moved up a base when Morin singled up the middle. Molinari then singled to load the bases up for Kelley. Turney came back, however, and was able to blow a third strike past Kelley for the second out of the inning.
Like she has all season, Mollica came through for the Minutewomen with a two-run single to right-center field. A sliding stop by the right fielder prevented the ball from going into the gap and another run from scoring. Acampora grounded out to second ending the inning, but the Minutewomen took a 2-0 lead to the fourth.
Michigan State took advantage of a UMass error to plate a run in the top of the sixth, Nicole Mercado had a RBI single with one out that made the score 2-1. It could have been worse as the Spartans still had runners on first and second, but Balschmiter was able to get out of the jam and still preserve the lead.
After UMass was retired in the bottom of the sixth, Michigan State came out in the top of the seventh and one last crack at Balschmiter.
After Balschmiter returned the first two Michigan State batters, Traci Nicolsia kept the inning alive with a bloop single to right. UMass senior Lesley Ferrara (Stamford, Conn.) made a diving attempt, but the ball just popped out of her glove. It did not matter though as Balschmiter induced a ground ball a few pitches later and secured her eighth win of the season.
Balschmiter finished the game allowing one earned run on seven hits and a walk. She fanned eight. Turney was equally as impressive for the Spartans. She allowed two earned runs on six hits and two walks. Turney struck out seven batters.
Against Tennessee-Chattanooga, UMass had a chance to strike first. Morin led off the game by singling up the middle. She was forced at second when Molinari reached on a fielder's choice. Two batters later, Molinari moved to third when Mollica reached on an infield single but Acampora flied out to end the inning.
The Mocs came right back in the bottom of the inning looking to take the first lead. They got an infield single and a walk to put runners at first and second with nobody out. Balschmiter worked through the jam by recording a strikeout and two pop-ups on the infield. The game moved on to the second inning still scoreless.
With Balschmiter on cruise control through the first three innings, UMass had a golden opportunity to break the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth. Mollica led off the inning with a single. After freshman pinch runner Davina Hernandez (Bristol, Conn.) was forced at second, Proctor singled to put runners on first and third with just one out. Freshman pinch runner Carly Morin (Worcester, Mass.) stole second base to put runners on second and third, but the Minutewomen could not scratch across a run in the inning. Sophomore Stacy Cullington (Encinitas, Calif.) struck out and then Ferrara grounded out to end the inning.
Balschmiter continued her dominance in the circle. A single in the bottom of the fifth by Chattanooga broke up a string of 12 straight batters retired, but Balschmiter worked around it to get out of the inning.
Acampora worked a two-out walk for the Minutewomen in the top of the sixth, but Proctor flied out to end the inning.
Balschmiter ran into a bit of trouble in the bottom of the sixth. A two-out error and then a walk gave the Mocs runners on first and sec second with two outs and a chance to break the deadlock. She was able to get out of the jam by getting Ashlan Clarkson to ground out to third.
In the top of the seventh, Cullington walked to lead off the inning and was lifted for junior pinch runner Michea Holness (Beverly, Mass.). The walk also knocked Chattanooga pitcher Jaycee Wood from the game. Ferrara sacrificed Holness to second against the new pitcher Ashley Frizzell. Freshman pinch hitter Samantha Salato (Toms River, N.J.) walked, but then UMass ran into some bad luck. Amanda Morin laced a line drive, but directly at Amanda Hoiness. Hoiness then threw in to double-off senior Kristi Stefanoni (Columbus, N.J.) at first. Stefanoni had re-entered the game for Salato.
Chattanooga went 1-2-3 in the seventh and for the second time in a week, these two teams went to extra innings.
With the international tie-breaker rule in effect, Morin was placed at second base to start the inning. A bizarre sequence then occurred. Molinari sacrificed to move Morin to third, but was safe at first when the second baseman covering the bag dropped the ball. With Kelley at the plate, Molinari took off for second base. The umpire, however, called Kelley out for batter's interference and sent Molinari back to first. Now with Mollica at the plate, Molinari successfully stole second base to put two runners in scoring position.
After Mollica popped up on the infield for the second out of the inning, Acampora came up with the chance to be the hero. Facing an 0-2 hole at the plate, Acampora drilled a line drive over the fence in right-center field for the first runs of the game. It was Acampora's team-high fourth home run of the season and took no time getting out of the park. Proctor grounded out to shortstop ending the inning, but the damage had been done. Balschmiter now came out for the bottom of the eighth and leading 3-0.
Chattanooga did not go down easily. With Brittany Whittier at second, Amanda Hoiness singled to center making the score 3-1. Balschmiter then hit Jeannie Cochran on an 0-2 pitch to put the tying run on base. After Balschmiter struck out Carey Cooper, a wild pitch with Tara Tambey at the plate allowed the tying runs to move into scoring position. Tembey flied out to left field allowing the second run to score. Proctor made a nice running catch for the Minutewomen and used a strong throw in to hold the tying run at second base. Ashleigh Bull then tied the game up at three with a single up the middle. The Mocs did not stop though as Clarkson singled to right putting runners at first and second with two outs now. Alyssa Edwards worked a walk to load the bases, and then Toni Hutchison won the game for the Mocs when her sharp grounder went through Mollica's legs at third base.
Balschmiter, who through over 250 pitches in the two games combined, took the tough loss. She allowed four runs, two of which were unearned, on five hits and three walks. She struck out 11 batters. Frizzell got the win for the Mocs.
Massachusetts will close out the Florida Atlantic Parent's Weekend Tournament tomorrow in the championship round. Check back to www.umassathletics.com later tonight to find out UMass' opponent and the time of the game tomorrow. It will not be known until after the conclusion of tonight's game after 10:00 p.m. Tomorrow's contest will begin at either 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. depending on UMass' seed. There will be a live audio broadcast of tomorrow's game at www.umassathletics.com. Live stats will also be available at www.umassathletics.com through Gametracker.
