University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
LIU
UMass Falls To LIU On Walk-Off Double, 3-2
March 15, 2015 | Softball
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Massachusetts softball team came back from one-run deficits twice on Sunday before dropping a 3-2 loss to LIU in the final game of the Michele Smith Spring Break Tournament at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.
UMass (4-10) had just two errors all weekend but ended up tying its season-high of four against the Blackbirds.
LIU opened the first inning with a pair of walks and two errors leading to a 1-0 lead.
Quianna Diaz-Patterson opened the top of the third for UMass with a single to center - extending her streak of consecutive games with a hit to 14 - before scoring two batters later on a ground out, tying the game at 1-1.
The Blackbirds regained the lead in the home-half of the third, using a leadoff triple and a sacrifice fly for a 2-1 edge.
Again the Minutewomen fought back, this time in the top of the sixth. Bridget Lemire led off with a double before pinch runner Caitlyn Hickey scored from third on Anna Kelley's double to left.
But the Blackbirds sandwiched two doubles around a groundout to earn the walk-off victory.
Kelley led the team with a season-high two hits to go along with five assists and a putout at third base.
Caroline Raymond (2-6) struck out three and walked two while scattering eight hits in taking the loss in the circle.
UMass will return to action next weekend when it opens Atlantic 10 Conference play at George Mason. With the new 3-game series format in league play this year, Saturday's doubleheader will begin at Noon and Sunday's single game will also be at Noon. All three games will be played at the GMU Softball Complex in Fairfax, Va.
