University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Florida Atlantic (FAU Parents' Weekend Tournament)
Softball Falls To Florida Atlantic, 4-3
March 19, 2006 | Softball
March 19, 2006
BOCA RATON, Fla. - Florida Atlantic (12-17) scored four unearned runs in the final three innings to come back and defeat Massachusetts (9-11), 4-3, Sunday afternoon in the fifth-place game of the FAU Parent's Weekend Tournament. Freshman Whitney Mollica (Windham, N.H.) was 3-for-4 on the day with a triple and a RBI for the Minutewomen while freshman Brandice Balschmiter (Newark, N.Y.) took the loss. UMass out-hit the Owls, 9-4.
In the first inning, Florida Atlantic had a walk, stolen base and a wild pitch to get a runner at third base, but Balschmiter was able to get out of the inning with a pair of strikeouts.
UMass looked like it was going to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning, but the rally fizzled on just two pitches. Junior Amanda Morin (Worcester, Mass.) walked to start the frame and then junior Candice Molinari (Glendora, Calif.) singled to put runners on first and second with nobody out, but Mollica hit into a double-play for two quick outs. Then on the next pitch, junior Amanda Acampora (Orange, Conn.) grounded out sharply to third on the first pitch of her at bat to end the UMass inning.
The Minutewomen had another chance to score in the bottom of the second inning when senior KJ Kelley (Rainier, Ore.) led off with a single, but junior pinch runner Michea Holness (Beverly, Mass.) was stranded at third base.
For the third straight inning, UMass out its lead runner on in the third and this time it took advantage. Senior Kristi Stefanoni (Columbus, N.J.) led off the frame by reaching on an error. Two batters later, she scored when Mollica tripled to right-center field. UMass received another gift when Mollica was able to score as the relay throw in from the outfield was off line and went out of play. Acampora grounded out to end the inning, but the Minutewomen gave Balschmiter a 2-0 lead to work with heading into the fourth inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, freshman Samantha Salato (Toms River, N.J.) recorded her first career hit with two-out single up the middle. Senior Lesley Ferrara (Stamford, Conn.) followed Salato with a single, but Stefanoni grounded out to end the inning. She hit the ball hard, but it was right at the third baseman for the third out of the inning.
FAU's Lauren Crandall led off the top of the fifth inning with an infield single, the first of the day allowed by Balschmiter. Amy Bukovich followed with a single up the middle and after an error by Molinari in center field, the Owls were in business with runners at second and third with nobody out. FAU got on the board when Melissa Moore grounded to third. Mollica fielded the ball and threw home, but Crandall slid under the tag by Kelley safely at the plate. Balschmiter then got two huge outs with a double-play. Charlotte Baird grounded right back to the pitcher. Balschmiter fielded it and threw to Morin at first for the out. Morin then tagged the runner out was caught up between first and second base. Jessica Sachs reached on an infield single and that drove in the tying run. Balschmiter was able to get out of the inning, however, when Sachs tried to go to second base and was thrown out.
Balschmiter worked around a walk in the top of the sixth and UMass came to bat in the bottom of the inning looking to re-take the lead. After Kelley popped out to start the inning, Proctor tried to start it for the Minutewomen when she doubled to left field. FAU pitcher Tara Grady struck Salato out for the second out of the inning and then Ferrara flied out to end the frame.
Balschmiter got the first two outs in the top of the seventh inning quickly, but a single and then hit batsman gave FAU a chance with runners on first and second with two outs. Sachs then hit a line drive to left-center field that resulted in a two-run triple. Balschmiter got a strikeout on the next batter, but the damage had been done.
In the bottom of the inning, UMass got a one-out base runner when Morin reached on a throwing error by the pitcher. Morin stole second base and sophomore pinch hitter Stacy Cullington (Encinitas, Calif.) came in and struck out leaving it up to Mollica as the tying run. She kept the inning alive by singling to left. Molinari stopped at third base on the hard-hit ball and Acampora came up to the plate representing the winning run. She brought UMass within a run by delivering a RBI single to left. Freshman Carly Morin (Worcester, Mass.) then came in as a pinch runner for Mollica at second base with Kelley at the dish. On a 1-2 pitch, she popped out on the infield and the game ended 4-3 in favor of the Owls.
Balschmiter took the loss for the Minutewomen. She gave up four runs (two earned) on four hits and four walks while striking out seven, Mollica was 3-for-4 on the day.
The Minutewomen will open up Atlantic 10 Conference play Friday afternoon with a doubleheader at George Washington. First pitch of game one is set for 2:00 PM. Live stats of both games will be available at www.umassathletics.com through Gametracker.
