University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Chattanooga
#24 UMass Takes Two On Day One In Clearwater
March 05, 2010 | Softball
March 5, 2010
UT-Chattanooga Box Score | Loyola Chicago Box Score
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Behind two strong starting pitching performances by Sara Plourde, No. 24 UMass softball started play at the USF Under Armour Invitational with wins over Tennessee-Chattanooga, 3-0, and Loyola Chicago, 4-2, on Friday at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex. The sophomore righthander struck out 13 in the complete game shutout of the Mocs and fanned eight in five innings against the Ramblers. The two victories improve UMass to 8-4 on the season.
Meghan Carta hit home runs in each game for the Minutewomen, the first two round-trippers of the junior catchers career. Michelle Libby also homered, hitting a solo shot against Loyola Chicago, her team-leading third of the season.
Plourde (6-2) didn't allow an earned run in 12 innings pitched, while allowing just six hits and two walks to go with 21 strikeouts. Bailey Sanders pitched the final two innings against the Ramblers, striking out four and picking up her first save of the year.
The Minutewomen took an early 1-0 in the top of the first against the Mocs after Whitney Williams walked, advanced to second on an illegal pitch, was bunted over to third, and scored on another illegal pitch. Mocs starter Brooke Loudermilk (7-3) was taken out of the game after facing one batter in the second inning after being called for eight illegal pitches.
Carta homered to left field with two outs in the second to make it 2-0 and Jordan Storro, pinch-running for Sarah Reeves who led off the fourth with a single, scored the third and final run on a throwing error by the shortstop on ball hit by Carta.
UMass jumped ahead early on the Ramblers as well, scoring two in the first inning on home runs by Libby and Carta, both to left field.
After the Ramblers scored once in the top of the second, the lead reached 3-1 in the bottom of the inning after Kyllie Magill led off the inning with a single, stole second, and scored on Carly Normandin's single up the middle.
Katie Bettencourt made it 4-1 in the fourth, singling with two outs to drive in Magill.
Loyola Chicago got one back in the sixth, but Sanders got out of a bases-loaded jam and then struck out three in the seventh.
Magill finished 3-for-3 against the Ramblers.
The Minutewomen continue play at the USF Under Armour Invitational on Saturday, taking on Virginia Tech at 12:30 p.m. and the host USF Bulls at 4 p.m.
