Feb. 9, 2008
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Two first-inning runs was all that UMass needed, as the Minutewomen downed South Carolina, 2-0, on day two at the Florida Atlantic Kick-Off Classic at the FAU Softball Stadium. UMass moves to 1-3 on the season, while the Gamecocks fall to 1-2.
The Minutewomen got back-to-back doubles from their second and third hitters, Stacey Cullington and Samatha Salato, in the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead. That grew to 2-0 after a Sarah Reeves stole second after her single and senior Jessica Josker’s throw went over second base, allowing Salato to score easily from third.
The Gamecocks had their chances, getting the leadoff runner in the first, second and fourth innings. In the first, junior Ashton Payne got a leadoff single and moved to second on the errant throw. She moved to third on Lisa Longo’s sacrifice, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the frame. Senior Becky Martinez got to second on a throwing error by UMass pitcher Brandice Balschmitter, but she got caught in a rundown on Chrissy Schoonmaker’s grounder back to the pitcher.
The fourth saw Jessica Josker reach on an infield single, but she got forced off on Laura Mendes’ grounder.
Carolina tried to stage a two-out rally in the sixth, after Josker reached on an error and Mendes got a single. But Balschmitter got Martinez to ground out to end the threat.
Senior Kate Pouliot (1-1) went the distance for South Carolina, allowing six hits, two runs, one earned, while striking out seven. Those strikeouts moved the Fountain Inn, S.C., native into eighth all-time on the career punch-out list. Balschmitter (1-1) struck out six while allowing four hits in the shutout.
