.png&type=webp)
.png&type=webp)
University of Massachusets Athletics
Saturday, March 28
DeKalb, IL
11:00 a.m.
University of Massachusetts
11
at
2
Northern Illinois
Softball Splits Doubleheader against NIU
March 28, 2026 | Softball
DEKALB, Ill — The University of Massachusetts softball team (8-18, 1-6 MAC) faced off against Northern Illinois (10-9, 4-3 MAC) in a doubleheader on Saturday. In the first game of the day, Massachusetts plated eight runs in the top of the third inning to fuel an 11-2 victory, before falling 5-4 in the second contest of the day.
Kelsey Blanchette tied a career-high with five strikeouts in the first game, and retired eight consecutive batters to begin the contest.
The Minutewomen return to action for an out of contest matchup against Dartmouth College on March 31 at 3:30p.m. in Amherst, Mass.
Game One
UMass 11, NIU 2
In the opening game of the day, the Minutewomen combined for 11 runs on seven hits, with Riley Kairer leading the way with two hits including a double. Riain Keefe, Brooke Musch, Lillie Scheivert, Olivia Packard and Lily Woodworth each added hits, and seven Minutewomen recorded RBI's. Packard, Kairer and Woodworth each recorded doubles.
On the mound, Kelsey Blanchette had one of her finest starts of the season, retiring the first eight batters she faced, and holding a shutout until the fifth inning. The first-year tied her career high in strikeouts with five.
The Minutewomen opened the game with a fast start, as the trio of Keefe, Musch and Odyssey Torres worked walks to leadoff the game, before a Scheivert hit by pitch plated the first run of the game. The Huskies turned to pitcher Taylor Mackin following the walks, and she worked out the of the jam without allowing another run.
In the top of the second, Heslin walked to open the frame and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Torres to give UMass an early 2-0 lead.
In the third, Massachusetts exploded for eight runs, taking a commanding 10-0 lead. Kairer got things started for the Minutewomen, reaching on a fielders choice. Woodworth doubled on the ensuing at bat to put both runners in scoring position, and a reached fielders choice from Heslin scored Kairer and gave UMass a 3-0 lead. Angie Rama walked to load the bases, and Keefe grounded out to score another run. An error on the next at bat plated two more for the Minutewomen, before three straight hits, including two doubles, plated four more runners.
The UMass lead increased to 11, when Musch scored on a wild pitch in the top of the fourth, giving Massachusetts an 11-0 advantage.
The Huskies did not go down easy, as NIU scored two runs on four hits, but the early deficit was too much to overcome, with Massachusetts claiming an 11-2 victory.
It marked the second mercy victory of the season, with the first occurring on Feb. 21 in an 8-0 UMass win over Kansas.
Blanchette (3-8) picked up the win for the Minutewomen, allowing just two runs on six hits and five strikeouts in 5.0 innings. Danielle Stewart (2-4) was handed the loss for the Huskies, allowing one run on three walks and one hit by pitch in zero innings.
Game Two
UMass 4, NIU 5
In the second contest of the afternoon, Keefe, Musch, Torres, Packard and Rama eached recorded hits, with Musch getting two hits, including a double.
The Minutewomen picked up where they left off, scoring two runs in the top of the first. Keefe led off the game with a walk, and Musch singled in the following at bat. Torres moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt, and Scheivert flew out to left field to score Keefe. A fielders choice by Packard was good enough to score Musch and give UMass an early 2-0 lead.
The lead was short-lived for the Minutewomen, however, as the Huskies opened the bottom of the frame with two walks, a double and a homer to take a 4-2 advantage. Hannah Streicher entered in relief in the first, and retired the first three NIU opponents to end the first.
In the top of the third, three Minutewomen singles knotted the game up at four, with Packard scoring both Keefe and Torres.
After a stalemate, NIU regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, after a leadoff triple and single two batters lated, to take a 5-4 advantage.
The Minutewomen failed to record a runner over the final two frames, falling 5-4.
Olivia Cutuli (2-3) picked up the loss for UMass, allowing four runs on two hits and two walks in 0.0 innings. Streicher entered in relief in the first inning, allowing just one run on four hits and three strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Lily Cassell (2-5) earned the win for the Huskies, allowing four runs on five hits, one walk and three strikeouts in 3.2 innings.
Kelsey Blanchette tied a career-high with five strikeouts in the first game, and retired eight consecutive batters to begin the contest.
The Minutewomen return to action for an out of contest matchup against Dartmouth College on March 31 at 3:30p.m. in Amherst, Mass.
Game One
UMass 11, NIU 2
In the opening game of the day, the Minutewomen combined for 11 runs on seven hits, with Riley Kairer leading the way with two hits including a double. Riain Keefe, Brooke Musch, Lillie Scheivert, Olivia Packard and Lily Woodworth each added hits, and seven Minutewomen recorded RBI's. Packard, Kairer and Woodworth each recorded doubles.
On the mound, Kelsey Blanchette had one of her finest starts of the season, retiring the first eight batters she faced, and holding a shutout until the fifth inning. The first-year tied her career high in strikeouts with five.
The Minutewomen opened the game with a fast start, as the trio of Keefe, Musch and Odyssey Torres worked walks to leadoff the game, before a Scheivert hit by pitch plated the first run of the game. The Huskies turned to pitcher Taylor Mackin following the walks, and she worked out the of the jam without allowing another run.
In the top of the second, Heslin walked to open the frame and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Torres to give UMass an early 2-0 lead.
In the third, Massachusetts exploded for eight runs, taking a commanding 10-0 lead. Kairer got things started for the Minutewomen, reaching on a fielders choice. Woodworth doubled on the ensuing at bat to put both runners in scoring position, and a reached fielders choice from Heslin scored Kairer and gave UMass a 3-0 lead. Angie Rama walked to load the bases, and Keefe grounded out to score another run. An error on the next at bat plated two more for the Minutewomen, before three straight hits, including two doubles, plated four more runners.
The UMass lead increased to 11, when Musch scored on a wild pitch in the top of the fourth, giving Massachusetts an 11-0 advantage.
The Huskies did not go down easy, as NIU scored two runs on four hits, but the early deficit was too much to overcome, with Massachusetts claiming an 11-2 victory.
It marked the second mercy victory of the season, with the first occurring on Feb. 21 in an 8-0 UMass win over Kansas.
Blanchette (3-8) picked up the win for the Minutewomen, allowing just two runs on six hits and five strikeouts in 5.0 innings. Danielle Stewart (2-4) was handed the loss for the Huskies, allowing one run on three walks and one hit by pitch in zero innings.
Game Two
UMass 4, NIU 5
In the second contest of the afternoon, Keefe, Musch, Torres, Packard and Rama eached recorded hits, with Musch getting two hits, including a double.
The Minutewomen picked up where they left off, scoring two runs in the top of the first. Keefe led off the game with a walk, and Musch singled in the following at bat. Torres moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt, and Scheivert flew out to left field to score Keefe. A fielders choice by Packard was good enough to score Musch and give UMass an early 2-0 lead.
The lead was short-lived for the Minutewomen, however, as the Huskies opened the bottom of the frame with two walks, a double and a homer to take a 4-2 advantage. Hannah Streicher entered in relief in the first, and retired the first three NIU opponents to end the first.
In the top of the third, three Minutewomen singles knotted the game up at four, with Packard scoring both Keefe and Torres.
After a stalemate, NIU regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, after a leadoff triple and single two batters lated, to take a 5-4 advantage.
The Minutewomen failed to record a runner over the final two frames, falling 5-4.
Olivia Cutuli (2-3) picked up the loss for UMass, allowing four runs on two hits and two walks in 0.0 innings. Streicher entered in relief in the first inning, allowing just one run on four hits and three strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Lily Cassell (2-5) earned the win for the Huskies, allowing four runs on five hits, one walk and three strikeouts in 3.2 innings.
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
P/OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballSoftball: UMass Lowell at Massachusetts
Tuesday, March 24
UMass Softball | Broadcast Highlights vs. Saint Louis | Game 3 05.03.25
Saturday, May 03
UMass Softball | Broadcast Highlights vs. Saint Louis (Game 2) | 05.02.25
Friday, May 02
UMass Softball vs. Stonehill | Broadcast Highlights | 04.30.24
Wednesday, April 30