May 2, 2009

Amherst, MA - Senior Brandice Balschmiter, who threw a no-hitter for the Minutewomen on Friday, returned to the mound and pitched six scoreless innings as the La Salle softball team fell to No. 24/19 UMass on Saturday, 8-0.

The Minutewomen held a 1-0 lead in the early going until Whitney Williams’ home run in the bottom of the second drove in three runs to give UMass a 5-0 advantage through two innings.

 

Over the next three innings, the Explorers only managed two hits which were attributed to sophomore Ali Shepherd and freshman Shannon Skomorucha.

 

UMass increased its lead, in the bottom of the fifth, when Whitney Mollica scored on a Michelle Libby single, 6-0, and then Williams closed out the game an inning later when she drove in two runs on her second home run of the day.

 

Junior Mary Pat Conville went 2-for-3 on the day after singling in the first and sixth innings.  Shepherd and junior Gina Massaro followed up going 1-for-3 and Skomorucha finished the afternoon 1-for-2.

 

Sophomore DJ Guinn took the loss after giving up 10 hits and eight runs in five and two-thirds innings.

 

For UMass, Balschmiter was awarded the win after throwing six scoreless innings while striking out eight.

The Explorers will close out the season on Sunday as they get set for a double-header at the University of Rhode Island with first pitch scheduled for 12:00 PM.