Softball Splits Two with UMass Boston

Boston, Mass. – The Framingham State University softball team rallied from three runs down in the closing innings to defeat the host University of Massachusetts Boston Beacons 4-3 in game one of a non-conference doubleheader this afternoon, but the Beacons rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh to win the second game 7-6 and salvage a split.

With the split the Rams are now 4-8 on the season, while the Beacons are 7-6 on the year.

Junior second baseman  Taylor Ezold (Westfield, Mass.) collected five hits in the two games with three RBI and two runs scored, while senior Sherren Doyle (Middleboro, Mass.) also rapped out five hits with an RBI and a run scored.  Sophomores Kyle Fortin (Candia, NH) and Alyssa Begin (Salem, Mass.) also had solid games with four and three hits respectively.

In game one, UMass Boston jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as senior Lisa Polsonetti (Revere, Mass.) tripled and then scored on an RBI ground out by Sue Killilea (Abington, Mass.).

The Beacons added an unearned run in the fifth on a pass ball to extend their lead to 2-0 as senior Kara Willis (Burrillille, RI) cruised through the first five innings surrendering just three hits to the Rams.

In the top of the sixth, the Rams were finally able to get their offense going against Willis.  Doyle led off the inning with a single through the left side and Ezold followed with a single giving the Rams runners on the corners with no outs.  Freshman Jess Morrissey (Barre, Mass.) followed with a sacrifice bunt, but the Beacons defense threw the ball away allowing all three runs to score and put the Rams on top 3-2.

UMass Boston tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the frame as Samantha Hemstock (Northford, Conn.) singled and was run for by Tori Pizzuto (Waterbury, Conn.).  Pizutto moved to second on a sacrifice and came around to score on a pair of pass balls.

The game would not stay tied for long as the Rams took the lead for good in the top of the seventh.  Fortin led off with a single and moved to second a sacrifice by Begin.  Doyle followed with a single down the leftfield line to drive in Fortin with the game winning run.

Senior Alysia Morrissette (Ware, Mass.) went the distance in game one and earned her third victory of the season.  Morrissette surrendered three runs, two earned, on nine hits with a walk and two strikeouts.  Willis picked up the loss as she went seven innings allowing four runs, three earned, on eight hits with a strikeout.

In game two, UMass Boston took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, but the Rams responded with two in the top of the third.  Fortin and Begin led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Doyle followed with a single to load the bases for Ezold with no outs.  Ezold delivered as she belted a single driving in Fortin and Begin.

The Rams lead would be short lived as the Beacons answered with three runs in the bottom of inning as UMass Boston capitalized on a pair of Ram errors.  A single run for UMass Boston in the sixth pushed the Beacons lead to 5-2.

The Rams once again rallied in the top of the seventh to reclaim the lead.  Begin led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on a ground rule double off the bat of Doyle.  An infield single from Ezold drove in Begin.  A fielder's choice erased Doyle at third, but the Rams still had runners on first and second with one out.  Freshman Tiffany Agostini (Rehoboth, Mass.) singled to load the bases.  Senior Alyssa Shea (Lakeville, Mass.) delivered an RBI single to center that was misplayed in the Beacon outfield allowing Morrissey and Agostini to score the tying and go ahead runs.

The Beacons, who were down to their final strike, rallied in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs to claim the victory.  The first two batters of the inning were retired by FSU pitcher Yaya Faria (Acton, Mass.), but Amanda Perry (Worcester, Mass.) worked a walk to keep the inning alive.  Hemstock followed with a double to left center driving in the first run.  Lauren Perra (Taunton, Mass.) followed with a single giving the Beacons runners on the corners and Natalia Bouyea (East Longmeadow, Mass.) followed with a grounder in the infield that drove in the winning run from third.

Faria picked up the loss in game two going 6.2 innings surrendering seven runs, four earned, on nine hits with a walk and eight strikeouts.

The Rams return to action tomorrow as they host Lesley University in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.