University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Proctor Leads Softball To Sweep Of Rhode Island
April 03, 2007 | Softball
April 3, 2007
AMHERST, Mass. - Junior Lauren Proctor (La Jolla, Calif.) went 5-for-6 with a double, home run and four RBI as the Massachusetts Softball Team (17-12-1, 4-0 Atlantic 10) swept a doubleheader from Rhode Island (6-16, 1-3), 4-0 and 6-1, Tuesday afternoon at the UMass Softball Complex. Despite the bitter cold, the Minutewoman offense still belted out 17 hits on the afternoon. Sophomore pitcher Brandice Balschmiter (Newark, N.Y.) improved to 13-8 on the year with wins in both games. She tossed a two-hit shutout and tied a season-high with 11 strikeouts in the first game, while allowing a run in four innings of work in the night cap. In addition to Proctor, senior Amanda Acampora (Orange, Conn.) and sophomore Whitney Mollica (Windham, N.H.) also went deep for the Minutewomen.
UMass was technically the visiting team and batted first despite the game being played at home. It was moved this morning from the University of Rhode Island Softball Stadium because the field was unplayable. Both teams failed to score in the first inning, but the Minutewomen struck first for a pair of runs in the top of the second inning. Junior Lauren Proctor (La Jolla, Calif.) ripped a one-out single into left field for UMass' first hit of the game. Senior Amanda Acampora (Orange, Conn.) followed with a two-run home run to left-center field. It was her four round-tripper of the season.
UMass had a golden chance in the top of the third inning to give Balschmiter some insurance. The Minutewomen had runners at second and third with nobody out and the bases loaded with nobody out, but URI pitcher Jill Anderson got Proctor to hit into an inning-ending double-play.
With Balschmiter on cruise control, the UMass offense gave her a few more insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning. Junior Stacy Cullington (Encinitas, Calif.) got it going with a one-out double to the track in center field. Proctor then ripped a RBI single up the middle driving in Cullington with the game's third run. As the throw went home, Proctor was able to score two batters later when sophomore Samantha Salato (Toms River, N.J.) delivered a RBI single back up the middle.
That was more than enough for Balschmiter. She scattered just two singles in the game while tying a season-high with 11 strikeouts. She did not walk a batter. For the Rams, Anderson went the distance allowing four earned runs on eight hits and no walks.
UMass wasted no time in taking the early lead in game two. Sophomore Whitney Mollica (Windham, N.H.) took a 2-1 pitch over the fence in right-center field for her second home run of the year giving UMass the 1-0 advantage.
The Minutewomen added another run in the top of the second. Proctor started the rally with a single into right field and went to third when Salato doubled to the alley in right-center field. Sophomore Davina Hernandez (Bristol, Conn.) made it a 2-0 game with sacrifice fly to center.
UMass added two more runs in the top of the third inning to open up a 4-0 lead. Mollica reached on an error to leadoff the frame and then senior pinch runner Michea Holness (Beverly, Mass.) went to second when Acampora singled sharply into left field. Proctor continued her torrid hitting with a two-run double to the wall in left-center field.
Rhode Island strung together a couple hits against Balschmiter in the fourth inning to make it a 4-1 game, but a solo home run by Proctor in the top of the fifth gave UMass its four-run lead again at 5-1.
Freshman Bailey Sanders (Durham, Conn.) relieved Balschmiter to start the fifth inning. She worked around a leadoff walk and a single to strike out the side. Balschmiter finished game two allowing an earned run on three hits and no walks. She recorded four strikeouts.
UMass had runners at second and third with no outs in the top of the sixth and scratched across one more run making the score 6-1. Morin picked up the RBI with a ground out to the second baseman.
Sanders pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning with two more strikeouts and then the umpires called the game for darkness giving UMass the doubleheader sweep.
Massachusetts will remain at home and host Saint Louis Sunday for an Atlantic 10 doubleheader. Game one is set to begin at Noon and both contests will be broadcast live at www.umassathletics.com beginning at 11:50 AM. Live stats will also be available via the Gametracker link at www.umassathletics.com.
