The Massachusetts softball team went 1-3 in its action this weekend, defeating South Carolina, 2-0, on the strength of a complete game shutout by junior pitcher Brandice Balschmiter.
The Minutewomen dropped two games Friday, losing a pair of one-run games to Michigan, 1-0, and Maryland, 2-1.
UMass dropped a third close game, this time a 3-2 decision to North Florida Saturday morning before the win over South Carolina.
The Minutewomen play again two weeks from now in the Palm Springs Classic in Cathedral City, Calif. Their first game of the tournament takes place Feb. 22 against UCLA. UMass will also play Arizona, Fresno State, Baylor and Michigan State at the classic.
Sophomore Sarah Reeves had a strong start to her season, going 4-for-10 on the weekend with one walk. Samantha Salato also did well, going 4-for-12 with a double, triple, two runs and one RBI.
Balschmiter picked up where she left off last season, giving up one run in two starts, but managed just one win. She struck out 15, gave up seven hits and did not walk a batter.
Sophomore Bailey Sanders also pitched well, but did not have the offensive support to pick up a victory, starting two games and finishing the weekend with a 1.17 ERA while striking out eight and walking four.
The Minutewomen open the Atlantic 10 portion of their schedule March 20 at Fordham. Their home opener comes March 26 with a double-header against Dartmouth.
UMass tennis falls to Columbia
The Massachusetts tennis team split their first weekend of games this spring, defeating Fordham, 5-2, Saturday before losing to Columbia by the same score Sunday.
UMass knocked off Fordham, despite a rare loss by Masha Pozar in the top singles position, falling 6-1, 6-3 to Dominique Liguori. The Minutewomen swept the doubles portion of the meet and doubled up the Rams in singles play, winning four of six matches.
The Minutewomen fell at Columbia, 5-2, Sunday, uncharacteristically struggling in the doubles part of competition.
The usually reliable doubles team of Pozar and Candynce Boney fell, 8-5 to the pairing of Nina Suda and Natasha Makarova. It was the first time this season UMass has not earned the doubles point in a dual meet.
Pozar defeated Suda in singles play, but Boney lost again in her singles match to Stephanie Zilberman.
Laura Murillo was the only Minutewoman other than Pozar to record a victory for UMass, defeating Natalia Christenson 6-4, 6-3 in match play in the sixth position. The Minutewomen next play Binghamton and Cornell in Ithaca, N.Y., Feb.ruary 15 and 16.
