Softball
 
 
 

 
Lauren Krieger had two of the Bonnies' six hits in a 4-3 loss to UMass.
  
 
UMass outlasts St. Bonaventure, 4-3, in second round of A-10 Softball Championship

Bonnies will face elimination game late Friday afternoon

May 12, 2006

Final Stats

AMBLER, Pa. - Massachusetts topped St. Bonaventure, 4-3, in the second round of the Atlantic 10 Conference Softball Championship on Friday afternoon at Temple University's Ambler Sports Complex.

The loss dropped the Bonnies into an elimination game to be played late Friday afternoon. St. Bonaventure will play the winner of today's Charlotte-Fordham game, which is starting at 2:40. The Bonnies' game will start approximately 45 minutes after the conclusion of the Charlotte-Fordham contest.

St. Bonaventure opened the scoring against the Minutewomen and Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year Brandice Balschmiter in the top of the first inning. Sophomore third baseman Brianna Bricker led off with a single. Senior shortstop Joelle Brunetto walked and her twin sister Kristin Brunetto sacrificed the runners to second and third base. Bricker then scored on an RBI ground out by junior catcher Anna Nagro.

UMass tied the game in the bottom of the first when St. Bonaventure junior All-Conference pitcher Christine Keleher was called for a balk with the bases loaded. Keleher and the Bonnies escaped without further damage when she coaxed a ground out to end the inning.

The Minutewomen grabbed a 3-1 lead with a pair of runs in the second. Kristi Stefonini led off with a double and later scored on a wild pitch by Keleher. Candice Molinari walked, stole second and scored on an RBI single by K.J. Kelley.

St. Bonaventure answered, though, with two runs of its own in the top of the third to knot the score at 3-3. Kristin Brunetto reached third base on an error by Whitney Mollica to open the inning. Senior left fielder Lauren Krieger then singled to drive in Brunetto. After a walk to freshman designated player Ashley Kotz, junior outfielder Caitlin Grattan laced a double off Balschmiter that scored Krieger.

 

 

UMass' Amanda Morin led off the fourth inning with a double to right center field. After she moved up to third base on a sacrifice bunt, Morin scored the eventual winning run when Bricker bobbled a hard-hit ground ball by Kelley.

Keleher suffered the loss and dropped to 18-10 on the season. She allowed six hits and struck out three, but was hurt by five walks. Balschmiter allowed the Bonnies six hits and struck out seven batters as she improved to 27-7.

Krieger finished 2-4 with one RBI and scored one run.

St. Bonaventure is now 23-21 on the year while Massachusetts improved to 36-14.

Broadbrand
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