AMHERST, Mass. – The La Salle softball team (0-17, 0-10 A-10) neared a victory in the final inning of game one Saturday at Massachusetts (9-10, 6-6 A-10, but ultimately fell to the Minutewomen 5-4 in the first game at 9-0 in five innings in game two.
UMASS 5, LA SALLE 4
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- La Salle jumped in front in the visiting half of the second inning when a pair scored on an error by the right fielder.
- Massachusetts countered in the bottom of the second with two runs of its own on a hit and a walk.
- In the home half of the fifth, a solo homer from UMass's Kristina Day put the Minutewomen in the lead for the first time.
- With two on in the top of the seventh, sophomore Casey Walker ripped a double to right center to plate the pair and put the Blue & Gold up 4-3.
- A leadoff walk, a double, and a triple allowed UMass to tally two in the bottom half for a walk off victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- La Salle registered six hits in the game, with the biggest being the two-run double by Walker.
- The Explorers also mustered five walks as a team with two from senior Ashley Mendenhall.
INSIDE THE CIRCLE:
- Junior Sarah Dowalo (0-10) tossed a complete game and allowed five earned on six hits and four walks. She also struck out four Minutewomen on the day.
UMASS 9, LA SALLE 0 – FIVE INNINGS
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Massachusetts went ahead 1-0 in the second inning with a close game up to the fourth frame.
- In the bottom of the fourth, the Minutewomen recorded eight runs on nine hits and one error to push the margin to 9-0.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- La Salle registered three hits, including two doubles – one by Mendenhall and the other by sophomore Mia Recenello.
- Rookie Alyssa Fagans reached safely on a walk.
INSIDE THE CIRCLE:
- Sophomore Regan Ware (0-7) tossed 3.2 innings and accounted for eight earned runs on 10 hits and three walks.
- Dowalo entered to face the final out of the fourth.
UP NEXT:
The Explorers and Minutewomen conclude the four-game series on Sunday with a twinbill starting at noon.
