University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Maryland
#24 Softball Splits On Day One Of FAU
February 06, 2009 | Softball
Feb. 6, 2009
BOCA RATON, Fla. - Eight different players recorded hits, with the big blow coming in the form of a grand slam off the bat of Whitney Mollica, as UMass softball (1-1) defeated Maryland, 8-3, in the season opener at the FAU "Kickoff" Classic in Boca Raton, Fla. on Friday afternoon. Those bats fell quiet however, in game two as the Minutewomen fell to host Florida Atlantic, 6-1.
Brandice Balschmiter overcame some early struggles with her control to earn the victory in the opener. After allowing three runs on four hits and four walks in the first two innings, the senior right-hander allowed just three batters to reach base over the final five innings, while striking out eight.
The Minutewomen jumped on the Terps early with two runs in the top of the first. Whitney Williams, who had earlier doubled, scored the first run of the season on a balk call. Jill Andrews added a run as well that inning after pinch-running for Sarah Reeves, who walked, on a Samantha Salato single.
After Maryland tied it 2-2 in the bottom of the first, UMass put together its big inning in the second. Jessica Serio led off by driving Terps' starter Sarah Dooley's 1-1 pitch deep over the left field wall. It was the junior catcher's first career home run. After two walks and a catcher's interference call, Mollica stepped to the plate and crushed a pitch to left-center for a grand slam, giving UMass a 7-2 lead. It was the senior captain's 23rd career round-tripper and gives her 129 RBI for her career, moving her past Kelly Buckley and Teri Rooney for sixth all-time at UMass.
Maryland got a run back in the bottom of the second, but that is when Balschmiter got in a groove, retiring seven-straight at one point and facing the minimum batters in third, fourth, and fifth innings.
The Minutewomen added a run in the sixth when Carly Normandin led off with a single, was bunted over by Williams, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored on an error of the bat of Salato.
In game two against the host Owls, Bailey Sanders got the start in the circle for UMass, allowing six runs on 10 hits with six strike outs. FAU starter Kat Stauffer allowed just one run on five hits and struck out five.
The Owls took the early lead in the first inning with two singles and a fielder's choice, all coming with two outs.
UMass got that run back in the second when Davina Hernandez, pinch-running for Sarah Reeves, who led off with a single, scored on an Audrey Boutin single up the middle.
FAU's big inning came in the fourth when a single, followed by an error, an RBI groundout, a hit batter, led up to a RBI single by Caitlyn Bliss (3-4), to make it 4-1 Owls.
While UMass' offense continued to struggle, FAU added two insurance runs in the seventh inning back-to-back RBI hits by Kerri Croney and Christine Houghtaling.
The Minutewomen continue play at the FAU "Kickoff" Classic on Saturday, taking on Long Island at 9 a.m. and Pittsburgh at 4 p.m.
