University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
La Salle
Plourde Throws Perfect Game In Sweep Over La Salle
May 01, 2011 | Softball
May 1, 2011
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
Photo Gallery
AMHERST, Mass. - Sara Plourde retired all 18 batters she faced to record the 12th perfect game in program history in a 8-0 six-inning victory in game two after striking out 18 in a 9-2 win in game one to give UMass softball (25-17, 12-5 A-10) a doubleheader sweep over La Salle (4-37, 1-15 A-10) on Sunday afternoon at the UMass Softball Complex. It was the first solo perfect game of the junior's career and her 10th overall no-hitter, third this season. Lindsey Webster homered in each game of the twinbill, while Meghan Carta added a round-tripper of her own and Cyndil Matthew continued her hot streak, combining to go 5-for-6.
Plourde (23-13) struck out eight of the 18 batters she faced and retired. The Bristol, Conn. native allowed just two balls to leave in the infield in game two, a flyout to foul territory in right field in the second inning and a flyout to left in the fourth. That came after she fanned 18 in game one. The only hits she allowed on the day were a sixth inning single by Ali Shepherd and home run by Shannon Skomorucha in that 9-2 win.
It was UMass' first perfect game since Plourde and Bailey Sanders combined in a five-inning perfecto on March 28, 2010 at George Washington (17-0). It was the first at home since Brandice Balschmiter threw one against Sacred Heart in the NCAA Regional on May 16, 2009 (8-0, five innings) and first of six or more innings since Balschmiter vs. GW on April 4, 2008 (8-0, six innings).
Matthew was 5-for-6 on the day, including a 3-for-3 effort in game two. She scored three runs on the day, drove in one, walked once, and stole a base. In UMass' four games on the weekend, the sophomore was a combined 9-for-11.
The Minutewomen took a 1-0 lead in the third inning of game one, but blew the game open with three runs each in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 7-0 lead. After La Salle scored two runs in the top of the sixth, the Minutewomen tacked on two more in the bottom half of the inning to make it 9-2.
Webster hit her fifth home run of the season, a solo shot center in the fifth inning, doubled, walked, and drove in two runs in a 2-for-3 effort. Matthew supplied a triple, a walk, and a run scored.
Meghan Carta reached base in all four plate appearances. She was hit by a pitch, walked twice, and hit her third home run of the season, a solo shot to left-center with one out in the fifth, and scored three runs. Kyllie Magill drove in three runs in game one with a double and a walk and Audrey Boutin went 2-for-4.
After a Tiffany Meeks sacrifice fly in the first inning gave UMass an early lead in game two, Webster blasted a three-run home run, her sixth of the year, to right-center in the second inning to make it a 4-0 game. The Minutewomen then used two hits and three walks to plate a pair in the third inning, added one in the fifth, and Teea Rogers doubled in the sixth inning to drive in Carta (double) with the eighth run to end the game.
The Minutewomen return to action on Wednesday when they host Boston College in a 3 p.m. doubleheader at the UMass Softball Complex.
