URI softball loses doubleheader to UMass

04/29/09 - The University of Rhode Island softball team (13-34; 2-14 A-10) lost a doubleheader to the nationally ranked University of Massachusetts at Amherst (31-7; 13-1 A-10), 13-0 and 8-0, yesterday afternoon at the URI Softball Complex. After dropping two games on the road during the weekend at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the Rams extended their losing streak to four games in back-to-back five-inning shutout loses.

The Minutewomen made quick work of the Rams scoring a total of 21 runs off of 21 hits. They held Rhody to just six hits on the day.

"We were outplayed today in every facet of the game," head coach Erin Layton said. "Defensively we had two errors in the first game. We had a dropped foul ball that the player who hit the foul ball came back and hit a grand slam. We continued to throw the ball in short, coming in from the outfield today."

In game one, UMASS scored two runs off of an RBI double by Sarah Reeves to jump ahead 2-0. Rhody threatened in the bottom half of the opening frame as freshman Brittany Julich reached on a wild pitch and freshman Courtney Prendergastt reached on a single to centerfield. But junior Melissa Wilson struck out swinging and junior Leah Dibussolo grounded out, ending the scoring opportunity.

UMASS added to its lead in the second on an RBI triple and two-run home run making it 5-0. After the Rams were retied in order in the second, the Minutewomen added four more runs in the third on a grand slam by junior Carly Normandin. UMASS went on to add one run in the fourth and three more in the fifth as Normandin hit a home run once again taking the game in five innings, 13-0.

Senior starting pitcher Odalys Torres took the loss as she allowed five runs on five hits.

In game two, UMASS once again took command in the first inning when senior Whitney Mollica hit a three-run shot to right centerfield to put the Minutewomen in front 3-0.

In the bottom of the frame, Amanda Sbei led off the inning with a single, but the next three batters were retired.

UMASS piled on the runs in the second, scoring five runs on two home runs and an RBI single, taking a commanding 8-0 lead. Rhody could not put any offense together as it had just two hits the rest of the way.

Sophomore Stacey Stanovich was handed the loss allowing one earned run. She was relieved in the first by Allison Hartzell after giving up a three-run home run.

"Our assistant coach [Jordan Stevens] pointed it out after the game that our pitchers have strengths and you don't want to continue to pitch to their weakness," Layton said. "Today we weren't able to get away from mistake pitches. If we made a mistake pitch against Charlotte, they would put the ball in play. Just like our assistant said if we made a mistake against UMASS they turned around on it and put the ball over the fence."

The Rams return to action on Friday as they host Fordham University. The first pitch is set for 3 p.m.

"Fordham is competing for seeding, so we need to play the role of a spoiler and continue to stay on track and finish the season strong," Layton said. "Our goal is to have more wins than the team had last year and to have more A-10 wins so that we start to turn our program around.