University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
George Washington
Salato's Onslaught Continues; UMass Blasts GW, 7-0
April 18, 2009 | Softball
April 18, 2009
AMHERST, Mass. - Samantha Salato's home run-hitting rampage continued on Saturday afternoon at the UMass Softball Complex as the senior leftfielder blasted two home runs and drove in four runs to lead #21/17 UMass softball (27-6, 10-0 A-10) to a 7-0 win over George Washington (12-27, 3-11 A-10). The round-trippers give her seven in the last four games and with 14 on the season she is just one behind Stacy Cullington's school record of 15 set in 2007. Audrey Boutin homered as well, while Brandice Balschmiter tossed the shutout in the circle to earn her 20th win of the season.
Junior shortstop Whitney Williams was 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored and made a fine diving stop and throw to first in the fifth inning to steal a hit away from GW leadoff batter Krissy Mackiewicz.
The win extends UMass' Atlantic 10 winning streak to 48 games, dating back to 2006. The Minutewomen have also won 50-straight regular season games at home.
Salato's seven home run week began on Tuesday with a two homer performance against Providence and continued on Wednesday with one round-tripper vs. Boston University. The weekend began on Friday with a home run in the first and the game-winner in the eighth against GW, leading into Saturday. The Toms River, N.J. native also leads the team in RBI with 38.
Balschmiter (20-4) pitched six innings, allowing two hits, one walk, and striking out 10. It was the senior pitcher's seventh double-digit strikeout game of the season.
After hitting the game-winning home run in the eighth inning of Friday's game, Salato picked up right where she left off, hitting a solo homer to right center that bounced off the top of the wall and out, giving UMass a 1-0 lead.
UMass struck again by way of the long ball in the second inning. Boutin, making her first start at designated player since the first two games of the season, hit one out of the park to right center, her second home run of the season, giving UMass a 2-0 lead.
Carly Normandin drove a ball to the right-center gap with one out in the third for her third triple of the season. The hit extended her hitting streak to 19 games. After Kyllie Magill walked, the freshman second baseman stole second and Normandin scored on the play as the catcher's throw to second base sailed into center field.
Normandin reach on a fielder's choice after a single by Williams to start the bottom of the fifth inning. Magill followed with a walk to put two runners on for Salato. She drilled the first pitch from Kara Clauss out of the park to left field and into the parking lot for her 14th homer of the season. The three-run blast upped the UMass lead to 6-0.
Williams doubled to with one out in the sixth, her third hit of the day, and with two outs, walks to Magill and Salato loaded the bases. Sarah Reeves followed by driving in UMass' seventh run with a single up the middle, giving the junior first baseman 26 RBI on the season.
Bailey Sanders came in to pitch the seventh for UMass, not allowing a run and walking one.
UMass has hit 45 home runs as a team through 33 games. At this point last season, the Minutewomen had 17. The school record for home runs in a season is 56 by the 2005 team.
The Minutewomen close their homestand on Tuesday when they host Boston College in a 5 p.m. contest at the UMass Softball Complex.
