There were better field conditions on Saturday as the Massachusetts softball team hosted Saint Joseph’s in the Minutewomen’s second series at Sortino Field after last weekend was filled with nothing but rain and dreary weather.
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Hawks (13-15-1, 4-5-1 Atlantic 10) would strike first in the first inning, courtesy of an RBI single by St. Joe’s catcher Kaylyn Zierke and never look backed.
The Minutewomen (10-19, 4-3 A-10) allowed three runs in the third and seventh inning before falling to the Hawks 7-1.
In the top of the third, St. Joe’s scored off the strength of a three-run home run by Zierke that went over the left field scoreboard and into the parking lot off of UMass pitcher Meg Colleran. Taylor Carbone allowed the three runs in the seventh inning after she replaced Colleran heading into the top of the fifth inning.
“I think I just let the cold and me not having my best stuff out there get to me,” Colleran said.
The defense sputtered in game two, committing four errors with two of those coming from second baseman Kaitlyn Stavinoha. In the top of the fourth, Minutewomen coach Kristi Stefanoni took her out of the game and replaced her with senior Whitney Cooper.
“I haven’t seen that defense since Florida Atlantic,” Stefanoni said. “We just need to watch some video and reevaluate the day.”
UMass walks off in extras
After a scoreless seven innings, both UMass and St. Joe’s each exchanged runs in the eighth inning before Ashton Wince took an outside pitch to right field to give the Minutewomen a 2-1 victory in game one.
Kaycee Carbone knotted the game at one a few batters before on a single up the middle to center field that scored Tara Klee who led off the inning with a double to left center.
“It was great to see them push through like that,” Stefanoni said. “I think that was the first time they’ve come back in the eight inning.”
“I just worked the count and saw a lot of pitches,” Kaycee Carbone said. “(For tomorrow) I just need to stay focused on every pitch every play.”
The only run that Colleran allowed in the game came in the top of the eighth off a single by Sarah Yoos. Colleran went the distance allowing nine hits, while striking out five and walking one.
UMass started the game off early with a double first at-bat on a double by Erin Stacevicz, however failed to produce after that as the Minutewomen would threaten in the first four innings, leaving at least two runners on base every inning.
“We left way too many runners on base, struck out looking way too many times … But really that’s just not trusting yourself up at the plate,” Stefanoni said.
Zander Manning can be reached at [email protected].
