University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
UAB
Softball Splits On Opening Day Of 2012 Season
February 10, 2012 | Softball
Feb. 10, 2012
Friday Box Scores: UAB | Illinois
Updated Season Stats
Saturday Schedule:
MIAMI, Fla. - The UMass softball team got a pair of nice offensive performances from a veteran and a newcomer as they split games with UAB and Illinois at the Combat Classic in Miami, Fla.
Freshman Quianna Diaz-Patterson and junior Cyndil Matthew each collected three hits and scored twice on the day. Diaz-Patterson, an Amherst native, started at shortstop in both games and was flawless in four defensive chances while collecting three doubles and an RBI. Matthew added a double of her own and made three putouts in her familiar left field spot.
Lindsey Webster and Katie Bettencourt each hit a 2-run home run on Friday.
Senior All-American Sara Plourde started both games in the circle and finished the day with 20 strikeouts and two complete games, while moving her record to 1-1.
Game One | UAB 3, UMass 2
UMass got off to a slow start this season, and didn't score a run until their sixth inning in their game against UAB. Diaz-Patterson led off the sixth for UMass with a double that she used her speed to reach second on a ball through the left side of the infield. Webster finished it off with a homerun over the left field wall to give the Minutewomen a 2-0 lead. Webster had an impressive performance at the plate, getting two hits and two RBIs over the course of the game.
The Minutewomen were unable to hold on, however, as the Blazers came storming back at the bottom of the seventh. A pair of homeruns was what put UAB on top. The first was a two run homer over the left field wall by Mandy Lowman to tie the game up. Then Kristen McGrath came up to the plate with a purpose and sent one sailing to give the Blazers the 3-2 win.
Game Two | UMass 4, Illinois 1
UMass played again later in the afternoon and , following a lightning delay, picked up a 4-1 win over Illinois. Plourde started the game off with a three-strikeout inning, which she did again in the fourth inning.
The Minutewomen got their bats going in the third inning and scored three on the Fighting Illini. Diaz-Patterson started things off with a double that put Cyndil Matthew on third base. Kyllie Magill's sacrifice fly to left field scored Matthew to make it 1-0 UMass. Katie Bettencourt followed with a homerun, giving UMass a 3-0 lead.
Another Diaz-Patterson double in the fourth inning scored Matthew, who had just hit a double of her own, sliding into home plate, giving the Minutewomen a 4-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth, a nicely placed ball by Illinois's Nikki Simpson in left field gave her a double and a little more, sending in Jess Perkins, but the speedy shortstop Diaz-Patterson was able to catch Simpson on her way to third for out number three in the inning, giving Illinois their lone run of the game but stopping them from continuing their efforts.
The Minutewomen play again tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. against Florida International and at 5:00 p.m. against Michigan State. Both games can be followed on GameTracker and on Twitter (@UMassAthletics).
