University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
South Carolina
Minutewomen Fall To UNF, Top South Carolina In FAU Tourney
February 09, 2008 | Softball
Feb. 9, 2008
UMass 2, South Carolina 0 | UNF 3, UMass 2
Boca Raton, Fla.--Junior Samantha Salato went 3-for-6 with an RBI-double and junior Brandice Balschmiter pitched a complete game shutout as the Massachusetts Softball Team (1-3-0) split its second day of action at the FAU Kick-Off Classic on Saturday. UMass scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning in game two, capped off by another stellar outing by Balschmiter for the 2-0 win over South Carolina. North Florida capitalized on three key UMass errors and held off a Minutewomen late rally to take game one, 3-2. UMass Will Play It's Final Game Of The Tournament Against Host Florida Atlantic University At 3 p.m. On Sunday.
In game two the Minutewomen wasted no time getting on board in the bottom of the first after escaping the top leaving a South Carolina runner stranded at third. UMass went right after Gamecock ace Kate Pouliot and the strategy paid off. Back-to-back doubles by Senior Stacy Cullington and junior Samantha Salato put UMass up 1-0 with just one out. Sophomore Sarah Reeves would continue the hitting streak as she sent a single single into right field bringing home Salato from second for a two run lead.
Balschmiter would then go to work. Striking out four more while retiring 11 of USC's last fourteen batters, Balschmiter improved her record to 1-1 en route to the complete game shutout.
The win against South Carolina was just the second all-time in the series, as the Gamecocks held a 9-1-1 advantage coming into today's game.
Playing the first game of the day for the second day in a row, the minute women committed two costly errors in the bottom of the first inning. Starting her second-straight game, Bailey Sanders struck out the leadoff hitter for North Florida. Sanders would then give up a single down the middle before hitting the third UNF batter to put runners on first and second. On the next pitch, Opreys' left fielder Kacie McCloud stole third as catcher Jessica Serio's pick off attempt sail over the head of third baseman Whitney Mollica for the first run of the game. Two batters later UNF would score once again after a two-out single led two an error by Mollica as her attempt to throw out the runner out first bounced past Reeves at first base. UMass would give up one more single to fall down by three before escaping the inning.
Down but not out, the Minutewomen bats finally started to heat up in the top of the fourth. After Mollica flied out to lead the inning, Salato tripled to the right field wall for UMass' first extra base hit of the tournament. Cullington singled through the second base gap on the very next at bat to put the Minutewomen on board. Cullington then stole second, setting up Reeves for a one-out RBI single to right field to cut the lead to one, 3-2.
Sanders would give up just one more hit but the Minutewomen couldn't get any closer as the sophomore pitcher moved to 0-2 on the season. Despite the loss, all three runs were unearned as Sanders struckout seven in six innings pitched.
Massachusetts will move to championship play on Sunday with the opponent and time still to be determined. Live stats and audio can be followed at www.UMassathletics.com.
