University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
USF
Plourde Fans 15 In 4-0 Win Over USF
March 11, 2011 | Softball
March 11, 2011
TAMPA - Sara Plourde struck out 15 in a complete-game one-hitter to lead UMass softball (4-10) to a 4-0 victory over USF (13-12) to complete a 2-0 first day of the USF Under Armour Showcase in Tampa on Friday. Audrey Boutin had a pair of RBI singles, while Lindsey Webster and Teea Rogers also drove in a run apiece. The Minutewomen defeated Toledo, 17-0 in five innings, earlier in the afternoon.
Plourde (4-8) allowed just two base-runners in the game, a walk in the second inning and a single to lead off the third. The junior All-American finished the game by retiring 14 in a row. She finished the day with 26 strikeouts over the two games in 11 shutout innings.
The Minutewomen struck early, scoring two runs in the top of the first. With one out, Webster and Meghan Carta worked back-to-back walks, setting up Boutin's single through the right side that scored the first run. With two outs, Rogers (2-for-3) worked a bases-loaded walk, the fourth free pass of the inning, to drive in the second run.
Webster doubled to left-center with one-out in the fourth inning to drive in Cyndil Matthew, who had reached on an error. After the second out of the frame, Boutin collected her second RBI single of the night, driving a pitch through the left side of the infield to score Webster and make it a 4-0 game.
Lindsey Richardson (5-4) went five innings for USF, allowing four runs, two earned, walked four and allowed four hits. Sara Nevins pitched a scoreless sixth inning, and Brittany Bowles worked a scoreless seventh.
The Minutemen continue play on Saturday with games against Colorado State (3 p.m.) and Green Bay (5:30 p.m.) in Clearwater at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex.
