University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Dayton*
Ferrara Continues Torrid Hitting As Softball Sweeps Dayton
April 28, 2006 | Softball
April 28, 2006
AMHERST, Mass. - Senior Lesley Ferrara (Stamford, Conn.) went 4-for-6 with a double and four RBI to lead Massachusetts (30-13, 14-2 A-10) to a sweep of Dayton (15-28, 6-10), 3-0 and 7-1, Friday afternoon. In game one, freshman Brandice Balschmiter (Newark, N.Y.) threw a two-hit shutout. It was her ninth shutout of the year as she improved to 22-7. In game two, senior Jenna Busa (Lexington, Mass.) allowed just one run as she upped her record to 8-6. Junior Candice Molinari (Glendora, Calif.) had at least one hit in each game extending her career-high hitting streak to 18 games.
Game one started off as a pitcher's dual between Balschmiter and Dayton's Melissa Myer. Freshman Whitney Mollica (Windham, N.H.) doubled with two outs in the first inning, but senior KJ Kelley (Rainier, Ore.) was unable to drive her in.
Dayton's best chance to score came in the top of the third inning with two on and two outs following a walk and an infield single, but Balschmiter got out of the jam with a ground out.
Senior Lesley Ferrara (Stamford, Conn.) led off the bottom of the third with a single. After being sacrificed to second base by senior Kristi Stefanoni (Columbus, N.J.), Ferrara moved up to third on a single to left by junior Candice Molinari (Glendora, Calif.). The hit extended Molinari's career-high hitting streak to 17 games. Molinari stole second to put two in scoring position with two outs, but Mollica popped up to end the threat.
A two-out rally by the Minutewomen in the bottom of the fourth brought in the game's first run. Sophomore Lauren Proctor (La Jolla, Calif.) legged out an infield single with two outs. She then moved up a base when senior Jenna Busa (Lexington, Mass.) reached on an error. Busa hit a ground ball to the left side of the infield, but Dayton first baseman Christine Eggers pulled her foot off the bag allowing Busa to reach safely. That turned out to be a big play in the inning as Ferrara drove in Proctor with a swinging bunt that fell into no man's land right in front of the plate. Freshman pinch hitter Samantha Salato (Toms River, N.J.) struck out with two on and two out, but Balschmiter now had a 1-0 lead to work with heading to the fifth.
The Minutewomen made it 3-0 with a pair of unearned runs in the fifth inning. Molinari got it started by reaching on an error as her ground ball was mis-played by Dayton shortstop Tami Roudebush. Mollica then singled to left putting two on with one out. Kelley flied out to right field for the second out of the inning, but it was deep enough that both runners could move up. Cullington made it 3-0 with a two-run single down the right field line.
The score remained 3-0 until the seventh inning. Balschmiter retired the Flyers in order to close out the game and preserve her ninth shutout of the year. She walked three and struck out seven while scattering two hits and not allowing a ball outside of the infield all day. For Dayton, Myer fanned six and did not walk a batter.
Game two started off as a pitcher's dual between Myer and Busa. UMass did not have a base runner in the first two innings and it was the Flyers who had the first chance to score. A hit batsman and then a single gave the Flyers runners at first and second and nobody out. Busa was able to get out of the inning without allowing a run to score on a strikeout and a foul out to Stefanoni.
A one-out single by Ferrara in the third was the first UMass hit of the game. She moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by Stefanoni, but junior Amanda Morin (Worcester, Mass.) grounded out to end the inning.
Busa walked two straight batters in the top of the fourth, but again was able to get out of the jam with a strikeout and a ground out.
UMass sent the heart of the order up in the bottom of the fourth inning looking to break the scoreless tie and did just that. UMass sent nine batters to the plate and five of them scored. Molinari got it all started by reaching on an error. After moving up a base on a sacrifice bunt by Mollica, Kelley singled sharply to left moving Molinari to third. Pinch runner Michea Holness (Beverly, Mass.) stole second base and then UMass got a little help from the wins. Cullington hit a routine pop-up to the right-side, but it got caught up in a gust of wins and fell harmlessly into right field. Molinari was able to score on the play making it 1-0. Proctor then reached on an infield single loading up the bases.
Salato struck out for the second out of the inning, but Ferrara continued her torrid hitting. She nearly missed a grand slam as her line drive hit the base of the left-center field wall. Three runs scored and UMass now led 4-0. The Minutewomen added another run in the inning as junior Amanda Acampora (Orange, Conn.) delivered a pinch-hit RBI single.
Pitching with a 5-0 lead, Busa ran into more trouble in the top of the fifth inning. Dayton loaded up the bases with just one out. Once again, Busa escaped with only minor damage. A ground out to second base brought the first Flyer run of the game in, but Busa closed out the inning with a strikeout to keep the game at 5-1.
Molinari led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a single to right extending her career-high hitting streak to 18 games.
UMass broke the game open with a couple more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Stefanoni drove in a run with a triple and then scored on a single by Morin.
Busa had no trouble in the seventh and closed out the win for UMass.
The Minutewomen will return to action on Monday, May 1, when Rhode Island comes to town for an A-10 Doubleheader. Game one will begin at 3:00 p.m. A free live audio broadcast will be available at www.umassathletics.com beginning at 2:50 p.m. Live stats will also be provided via Gametracker at www.umassathletics.com.
