University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Dayton
Balschmiter's 1-Hitter Leads Softball Past Dayton, 8-0
March 30, 2007 | Softball
March 30, 2007
DAYTON, Ohio - A one-foot single in the first inning kept sophomore Brandice Balschmiter (Newark, N.Y.) from her second straight no-hitter but she settled for a one-hit shutout as Massachusetts (14-12-1, 1-0 Atlantic 10) defeated Dayton (4-13, 0-3), 8-0, in five innings. Balschmiter has now thrown 19.1 consecutive scoreless innings and was nearly perfect on the day with no walks and seven strikeouts. Sophomore Samantha Salato (Toms River, N.J.) went 2-for-2 with a double and a two-run home run as all but two UMass starters recorded at least one hit. Senior Amanda Morin (Worcester, Mass.) was also 2-for-3 with a RBI. The two teams will play the second game of their series Saturday at 12:00 PM.
Dayton pitcher Erin LaFayette retired the Minutewomen in order in the top of the first inning and then Balschmiter came out for the bottom half of the frame. She got the first batter to ground out and then Mollie Schrank hit a tapper in front of the plate that did not go more than a foot out. Freshman catcher Jessica Serio (Barrington, R.I.) pounced on it, but threw the ball into right field. Schrank appeared to have been out by at least two steps if the ball was on target, but the play was ruled an infield single. Balschmiter proceeded to retire the next 14 batters in a row to preserve her sixth shutout of the season and third in a row.
The UMass offense got going in the top of the second inning. Junior Stacy Cullington (Encinitas, Calif.) led off with a walk and then senior pinch runner Jackie Teman (Downingtown, Pa.) took second base on a wild pitch by LaFayette. After moving to third on a ground out, Teman came around to score the first run of the game on a base hit up the middle by senior Amanda Acampora (Orange, Conn.). Salato followed by blasting the first pitch she saw over the fence in right field for her first home run of the season.
Leading 3-0, UMass added a couple of runs in the top of the third. Senior Candice Molinari (Glendora, Calif.) and Morin led off the frame extending their hitting streaks to six and nine in a row, respectively. After being sacrificed to second and third by sophomore Whitney Mollica (Windham, N.H.), Cullington ripped a two-run single up the middle making the score 5-0.
The Minutewomen tacked on a couple more runs in the fourth making the score 8-0 and enforcing the run-rule. Salato led off with a double and then senior pinch runner Michea Holness (Beverly, Mass.) moved to third when freshman Sarah Reeves (Elkton, Md.) ripped a single through the left side for her first career hit. After Reeves stole second base, Holness came around to score the sixth run of the game on a sacrifice fly to the warning track in left field off the bat of freshman Whitney Williams (Kingsley, Pa.). Singled by Morin and Mollica each drove in runs and made the score 8-0.
That was more than enough for Balschmiter (10-8) who allowed just the one single. She had seven strikeouts and no walks while setting the final 14 batters of the game down. Balschmiter needed just 65 pitches.
Game two of this series will be played Saturday at Noon. The game will be broadcast online at www.umassathletics.com. Live stats will also be available via the Gametracker link at www.umassathletics.com. Fans can tune into the free live audio beginning at 11:50 AM.
