Ulak and Shea Lead Softball to Split With UMass Boston
Boston, Mass. – Sophomore shortstop Christy Ulak (Rehoboth, Mass.) had two hits and drove in three runs and sophomore first baseman Alyssa Shea (Lakeville, Mass.) picked up three hits and drove it two as the Framingham State College softball team knocked off the University of Massachusetts Boston softball team 7-5 in game one of a non-conference twin bill, while UMass Boston freshman shortstop Taryn Asta (Marshfield, Mass.) and freshman catcher Sue Killilea (Abington, Mass.) each knocked in three runs to lead the University of Massachusetts Boston softball team to an 8-6 victory over the Rams in the second game at the Clark Athletic Center field on the campus of UMass Boston. The Beacons are now 6-7 on the season, while Framingham State stands at 3-9.
Ulak cracked a bases loaded double to the left center field gap to clear the bases and fuel a five-run fourth inning to break game one open and give Framingham State a 7-2 lead. Senior Megan Dumas (Holden, Mass.) led off the inning with a single, but stood on third base with two outs before the Rams hitters showed some patience with back-to-back walks from junior Andrea DiTerlizzi (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and freshman Kendra Fisher (Abington, Mass.) to load the bases for Ulak, who delivered to give Framingham State a 5-2 advantage. Sophomore catcher Katie Donovan (Holden, Mass.) reached on an error to score Ulak and then came around to score herself when Shea doubled to left center.
UMass Boston rallied for three runs in the fifth when sophomore Jaci Goodwin (Melrose, Mass.) slapped an opposite field single to left and stole second, before moving to third on an infield single by Cianciulli. Following an out, senior Amanda Cianciulli (Billerica, Mass.) forced the Rams’ hand by threatening to steal second base and forcing them to commit an error at second base, allowing Goodwin to score. Junior Maria Nasta (Andover, Mass.) later delivered with a double to plate two runs and cut the margin to 7-5, but that would be the end of the scoring for both teams.
Ulak was in the middle of things again in the bottom of the first for Framingham State when she singled to center with two outs and later scored when Donovan reached on an error. Donovan then scored herself on a single up the middle off the bat of Shea to give the Rams a 2-0 lead. The Beacons cut the deficit in half in the second when Nasta singled to center to open the inning and later scored on a one-out single off the pitcher by McKinnon. A Kasey O’Connell (Quincy, Mass.) fielder’s choice brought home Nasta with the run. UMass Boston pulled even at 2-2 in the fourth when Killilea stroked a leadoff double to left and later scored on a single through the left side by Asta.
DiTerlizzi (3-3) picked up the win for the Rams, yielding five runs (two earned) on nine hits, while striking out three. Sophomore hurler Kara Willis (Burrillville, RI) was saddled with the loss for the Beacons, giving up seven runs (three earned) on five hits and four walks to go with two strikeouts in three and two-thirds innings, before yielding to Wolf, who tossed two and a third innings of three-hit relief.
UMass Boston scored three times in top of the third inning of the second game to take the lead for good at 5-3. Junior Christina Polsonetti (Revere, Mss.) singled through the left side to lead off the frame and raced around the bases on a triple to left center by Killilea to tie the score at 3-3. Nasta traded places with Killilea with a triple of her own to give the Beacons the lead, before an Asta double to center gave them a two-run cushion. The Rams answered in the bottom of the inning when freshman Kelsey Power (Hollidaysburg, PA) cut the deficit to 5-4 with a sacrifice fly to right, but it would be as close as Framingham State would get for the rest of the day.
The teams traded runs in the fourth with Polsonetti ripping a one-out triple to left field with Killilea plating her with a ground out for UMass Boston. DiTerlizzi cracked a leadoff double to center for the Rams and later scored on an error with two outs to make it a 6-5 game. The Beacons opened up a three-run advantage with a pair of runs in the sixth when Cianciulli and Polsonetti each reached on consecutive base knocks and stole third and second base, respectively to put runners in scoring position. Killilea brought home Cianciulli with a single and Polsonetti later scored on an Asta ground out to give UMass Boston an 8-5 lead. Donovan crushed a solo homer to left field to pull Framingham State to within 8-6, but that would cap the day’s scoring.
The Beacons opened the scoring in the top of the first when they loaded the bases to set up an RBI fielder’s choice by Asta and a run-scoring ground out by freshman third baseman Marisa McKinnon (Revere, Mass,) to give UMass Boston a 2-0 margin. The Rams responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame when they also loaded the bases with two outs and freshman Taylor Ezold (Westfield, Mass.) singled up the middle to drive in a run and two more runs came across on a throwing error to give Framingham State its only lead of the second game at 3-2.
Junior southpaw Emily Wolf (Salem, NH) earned the victory to improve to 3-4 for the Beacons, hurling seven innings, while allowing six runs (three earned) on 12 hits and two walks in addition to five strikeouts. Sophomore Alysia Morrissette (Ware, Mass.) took the loss for the Rams, allowing six runs on 11 hits, while setting down two on strikes in five and two-thirds innings.
UMass Boston will be in action again on Saturday, April 3 when it opens the Little East Conference slate with a home twinbill vs. Eastern Connecticut State University at 1:00 p.m., while Framingham State travels to North Adams, MA to take on Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday.
Release courtesy of UMass Boston Sports Information.