SOFTBALL DROPS TWIN BILL AGAINST VISITING BEACONS

The Mount Ida College softball team dropped both ends of Wednesday’s twin bill against visiting non-conference the University of Massachusetts-Boston by a score of 4-0 and 14-3 on a hot and windy day in Newton, Massachusetts.  The Mustangs fall to an even 11-11 overall and remain at 4-6 in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) while the Beacons, who scored all their runs in the top of the last inning, improve to 8-10 on the season. 

Neither squad had much action in the first six frames of game one.  The Beacons put together the only offense of the contest in the top of the seventh inning on a four run, two hit inning with three costly errors by Mount Ida. 

Two consecutive outs started the top of the last frame for the Beacons.  The two out rally began with a single to centerfield by freshman Janery Gomez (Boston, MA/Madison Park) who was replaced by pinch runner sophomore Jaci Goodwin (Melrose, MA/Mystic Valley).  An error by Mount Ida put two on and a passed ball advanced the runners into scoring position at second and third.  A wild pitch scored the first run of the contest for the Beacons making it 1-0.  After a walk to senior Amanda Cianciulli (Billerica, MA/Billerica Memorial), the Mustangs botched a double steal attempt by the Beacons who would plate their second run of the inning up 2-0. 

A single by junior Christina Polsonetti (Revere, MA/Revere), who advanced to second on a Mount Ida error, put a runner on second to re-start the rally for the Beacons.  The mistake by the Mustangs scored the third run for UMB to lead 3-0 with two down.  A third and final error by the hosts plated the fourth and final run of the inning giving the Beacons a 4-0 lead. 

Mount Ida came into the bottom of the final inning looking to tie it up but only could muster a single by freshman Erica Mendez (Salem, MA/Salem), ending the game on a groundout for the 4-0 non-conference loss. 

Freshman hurler Devan Meeker (Bantam, CT/Litchfield) took the loss for Mount Ida and  was solid outing but could not get any help from the field with the four runs coming all on errors.  Beacons ace sophomore Kara Willis (Burriville, RI/Burriville) snatched the shutout surrendering seven hits with two strikeouts.

The Mustangs struck in the first inning of game two with one run on three hits.  Freshman Tiffany Hamann (Newton, MA/Newton North) was the first to reach on a bunt single.  An error by the Beacons advanced Hamann to third base putting two on.  A single to centerfield by freshman Cortney Rebello (North Dartmouth, MA/Great New Bedford Voc. Tech) drove in the first run of the contest giving the hosts a 1-0 advantage after the first inning.

Two runs in the second and five runs in the third inning handed the Beacons all they would need to flirt with the mercy rule at 10 runs scoring seven in two frames to lead 7-0.  A walk, a double, two singles, and another double plated the two runs for UMB in the second for the 2-1 advantage to fire up the offensive strike. 

Another five runs followed by the visitors on a five run, five hit inning produced a commanding lead over the Mustangs up 7-1 after the top of the fourth.  It was all but over from there with the Beacons tacking on seven runs in the top of the fourth in another error filled inning by Mount Ida.  UMB converted seven runs on four hits putting the mercy rule in affect leading 14-1.

The Mustangs fell short with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning giving the visitors a 14-3 mercy rule win good for their ninth of the season. 

Freshman pitcher Denise Picard (Winooski, VT/Winooski) had a tough day going 3.1 innings surrendering 11 runs, seven hits, seven walks, and nine earned runs.  Beacon junior Emily Wolf (Salem, NH/Salem) was consistent capturing the win on five innings with one earned run and a strikeout. 

The Mustangs will travel to GNAC powerhouse Rivier College on Friday for another twin bill starting at 4:00 p.m.