 "Photo: Brian Tedder/Collegian")
Carly Normandin leads the
In the seventh inning, Normandin was in the situation that every child dreams of. The Minutewomen were down by one run with the bases loaded and two outs in the final inning. To add to the drama, Normandin even had two strikes on her.
The junior star didn’t panic and took the next pitch and deposited it over the left field wall to give pitcher Brandice Balschmiter her 21st win of the season in dramatic fashion.
Balschmiter (21-4) gave up four runs on 11 hits and three walks in her complete game victory, but three of those four runs came in a shaky sixth inning for UMass (28-6), which extended its winning streak to 17 games.
The Huskies (25-17) were scoreless until catcher Erin Burtner hit a two-run home run in the sixth after Balschmiter gave up a leadoff single to Micah Truax.
Truax was a problem for Balschmiter all game long, having already earned two walks and finishing the day going 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Jillian Ortega followed up Truax’s homer with a double to right field. Designated hitter Amy Deluca singled between third baseman Whitney Mollica and shortstop Whitney Williams to put two runners on for the Huskies with no outs.
First baseman Justyne Roy singled up the middle to score Ortega and give the Huskies a 3-2 lead. Balschmiter retired the next three batters but the damage was already done.
Down to its final at-bat and trailing, 3-2, UMass started a rally against reliever Jessie Satavola, who came in earlier in the game for starter Rachael Crossin.
Playing in her 200th career game as a Minutewoman, Mollica led off the inning with a single to center field – her 200th career hit. After stealing second base, Mollica moved over to third after designated hitter Michelle Libby sacrificed bunted. Williams followed with a walk – prompting UConn to insert Crossin back into the game.
The move didn’t work out for the Huskies.
Williams immediately stole second base and Serio walked to load the bases with one out. Davina Hernandez struck out swinging on a 3-2 pitch to set up Normandin in the high-pressure situation.
After taking the 1-2 pitch for a ball – Normandin delivered.
Crossin’s next pitch went over her head as quickly as it left her hand for Normandin’s sixth home run of the season and a 6-3 UMass lead.
All the Minutewomen had to do was hold off the Huskies in the bottom of the seventh inning.
With another UMass scare in the bottom of the inning, it didn’t look like UMass would.
Balschmiter surrendered a leadoff walk to second baseman
UMass will continue play next in a conference battle at
Mike Gillmeister can be reached at mgillmei@student.umass.edu.
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