University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
George Washington
#24 UMass No-Hits GW Twice In Twinbill Sweep
March 28, 2010 | Softball
March 28, 2010
>Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | 
Photo Gallery
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Everything was clicking for No. 24 UMass softball (17-7, 2-0 A-10) in its Atlantic 10-opening doubleheader at George Washington (4-17, 1-5 A-10) on Sunday afternoon as Sara Plourde and Bailey Sanders combined to pitch a perfect game in a 17-0 five-inning win in game one and Plourde allowed just one base-runner in an 11-0 five-inning no-hitter in game two. The offense pounded out 28 hits on the day, led by Sarah Reeves' six hits.
Plourde, the nation's strikeout leader, struck out seven batters in four innings and Sanders came in to strike out the side in fifth inning to record the 11th perfect game in UMass history in game one. It was the first combined perfect game in school history and UMass first perfect game since Brandice Balschmiter against Sacred Heart in the NCAA Regionals on May 16, 2009. The last time two UMass pitcher combined for a no-hitter was on March 30, 2004 when Kelli Arnold and Barb LaFogg no-hit Central Connecticut.
Plourde walked the first batter of game two, but retired every batter the rest of the way, striking out eight, to make it back-to-back no-hitters. After a double play negated the first inning walk, UMass pitchers faced the minimum 15 batters in each game.
Reeves tied one the longest standing school-records in game one with five hits, going 5-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored. The senior tied the record of Gina Mantino (1982) and Ilene Freeman (1988). In game two, Reeves blasted a grand slam to left field, her fourth homer of the season and UMass' first grand slam of the year, to give her seven runs driven in on the day.
Carly Normandin was 5-for-7 on the day with three RBIs and four runs scored to raise her team-leading batting average to .467 for the 2009 All-American.
Besides Reeves, Katie Bettencourt and Meghan Carta each hit home runs for the Minutewomen, both opposite field shots, their second and third of the year, respectively. Bettencourt finished 3-for-5 on the day with three walks, five RBIs, and five runs scored, while Carta was 4-for-6 with six runs driven in and three runs.
Freshman Teea Rogers was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs and four runs scored, while classmate Cyndil Matthew was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs.
The Minutewomen return to Amherst for their home-opener on Tuesday, a doubleheader against Dartmouth at the UMass Softball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
