University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
La Salle
Home Runs Lead #23 Softball To Sweep At La Salle
April 01, 2010 | Softball
April 1, 2010
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Interviews
PHILADELPHIA - No. 23 UMass softball (19-7, 4-0 A-10) slugged five home runs to lead the offense in a doubleheader sweep at La Salle (7-13, 1-5), 8-1 and 10-0, on a sunny Thursday afternoon in Philadelphia. Kyllie Magill hit two home runs in game one, Meghan Carta hit a round-tripper in each game, and Carly Normandin belted a grand slam in game two. Pitchers Sara Plourde and Bailey Sanders combined to hold the Explorers to one run and four hits on the day.
Carta led UMass at the plate with four hits on the day. Besides the two home runs, the junior catcher combined to drive in four runs and score four runs. Normandin and Katie Bettencourt each finished with three hits on the day.
Plourde (18-5) got the start and victory in each game. Second in the nation in strikeouts entering the week, she fanned 22 total batters in 10 innings. The sophomore righthander allowed one run on two hits and struck out 14 in game one. She carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning before it was broken up by a bunt single. In game two, Plourde no-hit the Explorers over four innings, striking out eight and allowing just one base-runner on a walk. Sanders pitched the final inning of each game, fanning four total batters.
UMass jumped out to a 1-0 lead in game one in the top of the first inning on a RBI single by Jessica Serio, and made it 4-0 in the top of the second on a Normandin RBI single followed by a Magill two-run home run to left field. The Minutewomen manufactured a pair of runs in the third inning, scoring on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by Whitney Williams. UMass led 6-0 in the top of the sixth when Magill hit her second homer of the game, a solo shot down the right field line, her fourth of the year.
After La Salle got a run back in the bottom of the sixth after a lead off hit batter led to a RBI single by Mary Pat Conville, Carta hit a solo blast to left to give UMass a 8-1 lead and close the scoring.
The Minutewomen wasted no time taking an early lead in game two as well, scoring two runs in the first inning without benefit of a hit. Two walks, two wild pitches, and two fielder's choices resulted in the two runs and the lead reached three in the second inning when Carta hit her team-leading fifth home run of the season, a solo bomb to left center.
UMass' big inning came in the third when it sent 10 batters to the plate and piled up seven runs. Six batters in a row reached base on three hits and three walks after a leadoff out. That led to Normandin batting with the bases loaded and three runs already in. The senior All-American drove the 2-1 pitch over the fence in right field for a grand slam, her first home run of the season, making it a 10-0 game.
UMass' four-game A-10 roadtrip concludes on Saturday when the Minutewomen play at Fordham in a noon doubleheader.
