University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Rutgers
Sanders No-Hits Rutgers In 8-0 Romp
March 16, 2008 | Softball
March 16, 2008
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Sophomore pitcher Bailey Sanders threw her first career no-hitter as UMass softball downs Rutgers 8-0 to close out play at the USF Under Armour Showcase on Sunday. The Minutewomen went 3-1 in the tournament as they move to 9-10 on the season.
Junior Whitney Mollica went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI in the game as she hit 4-for-13 on the weekend. Senior Stacy Cullington led the team offensively on the weekend going 5-for-11 (.455) with a home run and 2 RBI.
The circle was tremendous in all four games owning a .24 ERA as junior Brandice Balschmiter went 2-1 to go with Sanders' 1-0 record.
It was a pitchers duel between Sanders and Rutgers pitcher Nicole Lindley as neither pitcher gave up a hit through four innings of play.
In the top of the fifth, the Minutewomen started swinging the bats. Sophomore Carly Normandin broke out of her 0-for-23 slump with a chopper to right field followed by a Proctor single to the same spot on the next at-bat putting runners on first and second. After Cullington drew a walk, Mollica delivered a single to right center with bases load that brought in two runners for a 2-0 lead. Junior Samantha Salato tacked on another soon after on a RBI single to right field scoring Cullington from third.
Cullington made it 4-0 in the top of the seventh as she took a 2-0 pitch to deep center and over the wall for her first home run of the season, the 28th of her career. The Minutewomen would grab four more runs in the inning on highlighted by a ground rule double by freshman Lindsay Maroney who grabbed the first hit of her career.
Sanders would close out the game leaving two-runners stranded in the bottom of the seventh en route to her third win of the season.
The Minutewomen will stay in the Tampa Bay area for a double-header on Monday at South Florida. The first game will start at 5 p.m. EST.
