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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The series continues tomorrow with a doubleheader at noon on ESPN+.
For complete coverage of the UMass softball team, follow the Minutewomen on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @UMassSoftball and online at www.UMassAthletics.com.
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
