University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Illinois State
Plourde No-Hits Illinois State, #20 UMass Wins 1-0
February 27, 2010 | Softball
Feb. 27, 2010
COLUMBUS, Ga. - A pair of sophomore's led the way for UMass softball on Saturday night as Sara Plourde threw a no-hitter with a school-record tying 18 strikeouts and Jordan Storro drove in the game's lone run in the sixth inning with the first hit of her career as the No. 20 Minutewomen (6-3) defeated Illinois State (8-4), 1-0, on Saturday night at South Commons. UMass finishes play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Sunday against No. 18 Louisiana at 10 a.m.
Plourde (5-1) was untouchable all game, allowing just three balls to be put in play. Her 18 strikeouts tied the UMass record for strikeouts in a seven inning game, set by Danielle Henderson on three occasions. It also shattered her old career-high of 15 set against FIU in the season-opening tournament on Feb. 14. She allowed five base-runners in the game on four walks and one hit batter. The no-hitter is the second of her career, the other coming at Dayton on March 22, 2009.
The game was a pitchers duel throughout, as Plourde and Redbirds starter Megan Warner (3-1) put zeroes on the board through five innings. UMass stranded nine batters in the first five innings before breaking through in the sixth.
Meghan Carta doubled to left center with one out in the sixth. Jill Andrews pinch-ran for Carta, setting the table for Storro, who in the first start of her career, singled up the middle. Andrews slid around the tag of the Illinois State catcher to score the game's only run.
Plourde finished the game strong, striking out the final six batters she faced.
Whitney Williams, Katie Bettencourt, and Plourde also had hits for UMass.
Henderson had 18-K efforts for UMass in 1997, 1998, and 1999, all in seven-inning games. Brandice Balschmiter set the UMass record for most strikeouts in any game with 19 in a eight-inning win over George Washington in 2009.
