University of Massachusets Athletics
Saturday, April 18
Amherst, Mass.
12:00 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
16-25, 7-13
5
vs
4
Akron
25-21, 16-4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| UMass | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 0 |
Musch Hits Walkoff Grand Slam As Minutewomen Split With Akron
April 18, 2026 | Softball
AMHERST, Mass. — The University of Massachusetts softball team (16-26, 7-14 MAC) split a series finale double header against Akron (26-21, 17-4 MAC). After Brooke Musch blasted a walkoff grand slam in the first game of the day to take a 5-4 win, the Zips held the Minutewomen off the board for a 2-0 victory.
Two Minutewomen surpassed career milestones on the day, as Musch's grand slam also marked the first home run of her career. Odyssey Torres singled in the bottom of the sixth inning in the first game, clinching her 100th career collegiate hit.
Musch led the offense for the day, with three hits and all five runs batted in. Grace Colucci, Tiegan Walsh and Torres each had multiple hits on the day.
The Minutewomen return to action on Friday, April 24th for a series against Bowling Green in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Game One
UMass 5, Akron 4
In the opening game of the day, timely hitting and solid pitching secured the win for UMass. Musch led the offense with two hits and five RBI's, with Colucci adding two hits of her own. Torres, Angie Rama, Lillie Scheivert and Lily Woodworth each had a hit for the Minutewomen.
Kelsey Blanchette opened the game on fire, retiring the first seven batters she faced, including three straight strikeouts from the top of the second to the third. Akron snuck a base hit through the left side of the infield with one out in the third, but Blanchette retired the next two batters to keep the game at 0-0.
In the bottom half of the third, the Minutewomen struck first. Colucci led off the inning with a single down the right field line, and advanced to second on a groundout. With two outs, Musch doubled to left center, scoring Colucci and breaking the tie, giving UMass a 1-0 advantage.
In the top of the fifth, Akron responded with three runs of its own. Consecutive one out walks and a double from Meagan Lee took the lead for the Zips, 2-1. Lee advanced to third on a throw to home after the double, and scored on a wild pitch, extending the lead to 3-1.
Olivia Cutuli entered in relief, and immediately got to work, striking out back to back batters to end the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Minutewomen threatened the Akron lead. Following consecutive singles from Torres and Scheivert with two outs, both runners advanced to scoring position. Massachusetts was unable to capitalize, stranding both and heading into the seventh down 3-1.
Akron's Delaney Jenkison turned on a 2-2 fastball, sending a deep drive to left field to extend the Akron lead to 4-1.
In the bottom of the seventh, Colucci singled in the infield with two outs. Rama singled on the following at bat, and Riain Keefe worked a walk to load the bases. Musch again came up clutch with two outs, sending the first pitch she saw over the left center wall to secure the comeback victory for UMass, 5-4.
Cutuli (3-5) picked up the win for the Minutewomen, allowing one run on two hits and three strikeouts in 2.2 relief innings. Blanchette received a no decision after allowing three runs on four walks, two hits and four strikeouts. Madie Jamrog (10-6) was handed the loss for Akron, allowing five runs on eight hits, one walk and four strikeouts.
Game Two
UMass 0, Akron 2
In the second game of the day, Akron held the Minutewomen off the board to win its MAC-leading 17th conference game. Walsh had two hits for the Minutewomen, with Keefe, Musch and Torres adding hits.
Pitching in her second straight game, Jamrog settled in early, retiring the first 10 batters she faced. Musch ended the perfection with a single up the middle.
In the top of the fifth, Akron broke open the tie. Lee hit a one out single, and later advanced to third on another Zip single. With runners at the corners, Akron sent the runner from first to steal second, and the Minutewomen threw to second. Lee scored on the play to take a 1-0 lead.
The Zips added an insurance run in the top of the seventh with a single to center to score a runner from second and take a 2-0 lead.
Walsh singled in the bottom of the seventh with one out to give the Minutewomen life, but was the last Minutewoman to reach base.
Streicher (9-12) picked up the loss for UMass, allowing two runs on 10 hits, two walks and three strikeouts in 7.0 innings. Jamrog earned the win with a five hit shutout, walking one and striking out one.
Two Minutewomen surpassed career milestones on the day, as Musch's grand slam also marked the first home run of her career. Odyssey Torres singled in the bottom of the sixth inning in the first game, clinching her 100th career collegiate hit.
Musch led the offense for the day, with three hits and all five runs batted in. Grace Colucci, Tiegan Walsh and Torres each had multiple hits on the day.
The Minutewomen return to action on Friday, April 24th for a series against Bowling Green in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Game One
UMass 5, Akron 4
In the opening game of the day, timely hitting and solid pitching secured the win for UMass. Musch led the offense with two hits and five RBI's, with Colucci adding two hits of her own. Torres, Angie Rama, Lillie Scheivert and Lily Woodworth each had a hit for the Minutewomen.
Kelsey Blanchette opened the game on fire, retiring the first seven batters she faced, including three straight strikeouts from the top of the second to the third. Akron snuck a base hit through the left side of the infield with one out in the third, but Blanchette retired the next two batters to keep the game at 0-0.
In the bottom half of the third, the Minutewomen struck first. Colucci led off the inning with a single down the right field line, and advanced to second on a groundout. With two outs, Musch doubled to left center, scoring Colucci and breaking the tie, giving UMass a 1-0 advantage.
In the top of the fifth, Akron responded with three runs of its own. Consecutive one out walks and a double from Meagan Lee took the lead for the Zips, 2-1. Lee advanced to third on a throw to home after the double, and scored on a wild pitch, extending the lead to 3-1.
Olivia Cutuli entered in relief, and immediately got to work, striking out back to back batters to end the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Minutewomen threatened the Akron lead. Following consecutive singles from Torres and Scheivert with two outs, both runners advanced to scoring position. Massachusetts was unable to capitalize, stranding both and heading into the seventh down 3-1.
Akron's Delaney Jenkison turned on a 2-2 fastball, sending a deep drive to left field to extend the Akron lead to 4-1.
In the bottom of the seventh, Colucci singled in the infield with two outs. Rama singled on the following at bat, and Riain Keefe worked a walk to load the bases. Musch again came up clutch with two outs, sending the first pitch she saw over the left center wall to secure the comeback victory for UMass, 5-4.
Cutuli (3-5) picked up the win for the Minutewomen, allowing one run on two hits and three strikeouts in 2.2 relief innings. Blanchette received a no decision after allowing three runs on four walks, two hits and four strikeouts. Madie Jamrog (10-6) was handed the loss for Akron, allowing five runs on eight hits, one walk and four strikeouts.
Game Two
UMass 0, Akron 2
In the second game of the day, Akron held the Minutewomen off the board to win its MAC-leading 17th conference game. Walsh had two hits for the Minutewomen, with Keefe, Musch and Torres adding hits.
Pitching in her second straight game, Jamrog settled in early, retiring the first 10 batters she faced. Musch ended the perfection with a single up the middle.
In the top of the fifth, Akron broke open the tie. Lee hit a one out single, and later advanced to third on another Zip single. With runners at the corners, Akron sent the runner from first to steal second, and the Minutewomen threw to second. Lee scored on the play to take a 1-0 lead.
The Zips added an insurance run in the top of the seventh with a single to center to score a runner from second and take a 2-0 lead.
Walsh singled in the bottom of the seventh with one out to give the Minutewomen life, but was the last Minutewoman to reach base.
Streicher (9-12) picked up the loss for UMass, allowing two runs on 10 hits, two walks and three strikeouts in 7.0 innings. Jamrog earned the win with a five hit shutout, walking one and striking out one.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cutuli, Olivia (3-5)
L: Jamrog, Madie (10-6)
Batting:
2B: Lee, Meagan 1 ; Gatti, Kenzie 1
HR: Jenkinson, Delaney 1
RBI: Jenkinson, Delaney 1 ; Lee, Meagan 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Sivek, Brooke 1 ; Jenkinson, Delaney 2 ; Lee, Meagan 1
SB: Gatti, Kenzie 1
HBP: Gatti, Kenzie 1
Batting:
2B: Musch, Brooke 1
HR: Musch, Brooke 1
RBI: Musch, Brooke 5
Base Running:
RUNS: Kairer, Riley 1 ; Musch, Brooke 1 ; Colucci, Grace 2 ; Keefe, Riain 1
HBP: Keefe, Riain 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
5
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P/OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C/IF
/ Softball
INF
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