BOSTON, MA - Sophomore first baseman Elisa LaRoche (Westford, MA) cracked a three-run double to lead the University of Massachusetts Boston softball team to a 6-5 win over visiting Lasell College in the second game of a doubleheader split today at the Clark Athletic Center field on the campus of UMass Boston. The Lasers won the first game of the day, 5-4. The Beacons are now 4-12 on the season, while Lasell stands at 10-8.
UMass Boston faced a 5-2 deficit in the bottom of the seventh of game one, but sophomore left fielder Christina Polsonetti (Revere, MA) reached on a one-out infield single and circled the bases on a double to left field by freshman shortstop Ashley Faiella (Hyde Park, MA) to cut the margin to 5-3. Senior third baseman Lauren O'Connor (Everett, MA) followed with a bases on balls and both she and Faiella moved up a base on a wild pitch for senior designated player Courtney Haroules (Littleton, MA), who grounded out to shortstop to plate Faiella and pull the Beacons to within 5-4, but it would be as close as they would get as the contest ended on a ground out to short.
Lasell got on the board first with a pair of runs in the first inning coming after it loaded the bases with three straight walks to open the frame, followed by a two-run double to right center off the bat of junior designated player Kelly Barden (Quincy, MA) for a 2-0 lead, but UMass Boston got out of the inning without any more damage. The Beacons got a run back in the second when senior center fielder Jenn Widener (Hyde Park, MA) singled through the right side, moved to second on a walk by sophomore second baseman Leigh Hammontree (Westport, MA) and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman catcher Lisa Polsonetti (Revere, MA), before scoring on a bunt single for freshman right fielder Jaci Goodwin's (Melrose, MA) first collegiate hit to make it 2-1. The Lasers restored their lead to two runs in the third when freshman first baseman Jacqueline Saluti (Braintree, MA) hit a leadoff single through the left side and later came around to score on a one-out single to center field by freshman third baseman Talia DeChiaria (Kingston, MA) for a 3-1 lead for the visitors. UMass Boston closed to within 3-2 with a run in the fifth when Christina Polsonetti smoked a double off the outstretched glove of the leaping third baseman into left field to lead off the frame and later scored on a one-out sacrifice fly to center field by O'Connor. Lasell added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth when junior center fielder Tricia Culver (Northampton, MA) began the inning with a double to center field, went to third on a wild pitch and later scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by senior catcher Heather Lynch (Warwick, RI). The Lasers got another run when sophomore second baseman Kelly Silvia (Oak Bluffs, MA) reached on a fielder's choice and later scored on a wild pitch.
Junior Jacqueline Losseff (Point Pleasant, NJ) (5-3) earned the victory for Lasell, going seven innings and allowing four runs on six hits and five walks, while striking out two. Freshman Kara Willis (Burrillville, RI) took the loss for the Beacons, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits and six walks to go with four strikeouts in seven innings of work.
UMass Boston loaded the bases with one out when LaRoche parked a double to left center to clear the bases and give the Beacons a 5-4 edge in the bottom of the fifth inning of the second game. Hammontree followed with a single up the middle to drive in the sixth UMass Boston run. The Lasers came within 6-5 in the seventh when Lynch crushed the first pitch she saw for a pinch-hit homer over the left field fence, but it would be as close as they would get.
The Beacons opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the first when Christina Polsonetti led off with a single and later scored on the throw to first base after a dropped third strike. O'Connor also reached during the inning on a fielder's choice and came home on a single to center by LaRoche to give UMB a 2-0 lead. Lasell answered with four runs in the third, thanks to a two-run double to left center by Saluti and a two-run blast over the left center field fence by Barden to give the visitors a 4-2 lead.
Willis (4-9) picked up the win for UMass Boston, going seven innings, while allowing five runs on six hits and two walks in addition to five strikeouts. Sophomore hurler Kirsten Mammola (North Reading, MA) suffered the loss for the Lasers, giving up six runs on seven hits and two walks, while fanning six. Christina Polsonetti led the UMB bats with four hits and four runs scored on the day, while LaRoche knocked in four runs with a pair of hits. Saluti led Lasell with three hits and added two RBI, while Barden collected a pair of hits and four runs batted in.
The Beacons will be in action again on Thursday, April 2 when they host Becker College at 3:00 p.m. at the Clark Athletic Center, while Lasell takes on Lesley University tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. in a single game at home.
Article courtesy of UMass Boston Sports Information