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University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
14-16, 10-11
Rhode Island
4-20, 1-10
Softball Opens Rhode Island Series With Walk-Off Win
May 07, 2021 | Softball
Amy Smith drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to help UMass complete a four-run comeback.
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The Minutewomen answered a 1-0 deficit in the bottom of the third inning with a pair of runs on two hits as Smith picked up her first two RBI on a one-out double to left center field to put UMass ahead 2-1. UMass kept it going in the fourth inning with three consecutive hits to lead-off the frame with Caroline Videtto, Payge Suggs and Bella Pantoja reaching safely to load the bases. After a Smith walk brought in the third UMass run, Suggs added another as she crossed the plate on a wild pitch to give the Minutewomen a 4-1 advantage.
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Rhode Island regained the lead in the top half of the fifth inning by plating seven runs on five hits and an error to pull ahead 8-4.
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Suggs loaded the bases for UMass in a three-run bottom of the fifth inning with a single through the left side for her second hit of the day. Pantoja followed with one of her three hits on the afternoon the next at-bat with a double that brought in two runs before Suggs scored for the second time on the day on a groundout to bring UMass within a run at 8-7.
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Caroline Deem tied things up at 8-8 in the sixth inning with a two-out, two-strike RBI single down the right field line to score Hannah Bunker.
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UMass loaded the bases once again in the seventh inning after Pantoja singled up the middle with one down followed by a pair of free passes to Kristina Day and Kendra Allen. Smith picked up her fourth and final RBI of the game in the next at-bat, beating out the throw to first base on a potential double play to help secure a 9-8 UMass win.
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The series continues tomorrow with a doubleheader at noon on ESPN+.
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For complete coverage of the UMass softball team, follow the Minutewomen on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @UMassSoftball and online at www.UMassAthletics.com.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: DiPasquale, Jessie (11-12)
L: COLLINS (1-2)
Batting:
2B: RAPUANO 1 ; CASTILLO 1 ; DESOUSA 1 ; ROBLES 1 ; SWENSON 1
RBI: RAPUANO 2 ; DESOUSA 1 ; ROBLES 1 ; SWENSON 1 ; HOLLAND 2 ; LESSER 1
Base Running:
RUNS: RAPUANO 1 ; O'LEARY 1 ; LOPEZ 1 ; PLEASIC 1 ; ROBLES 2 ; SWENSON 1 ; HOLLAND 1
SB: RAPUANO 1
Batting:
2B: Pantoja, Bella 1 ; Smith, Amy 1 ; Bunker, Hannah 1
RBI: Pantoja, Bella 2 ; Day, Kristina 1 ; Smith, Amy 4 ; Deem, Caroline 1
SH: Shields, Jules 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pantoja, Bella 2 ; Day, Kristina 1 ; Bunker, Hannah 1 ; Deem, Caroline 1 ; Videtto, Caroline 2 ; Suggs, Payge 2
SB: Day, Kristina 1
HBP: Allen, Kendra 1 ; Videtto, Caroline 2
