The Massachusetts softball team started its campaign in Madeira Beach, Fla. with a 6-4 loss to Bethune-Cookman, on what ended up being a rainy Friday. After a sluggish first five innings, the Minutewomen (6-10) made a late push against the Wildcats (4-14), but didn’t get the job done.
An action-packed sixth inning ended up being the decider. Bethune-Cookman scored three runs on two hits to start off, bringing its lead to 6-2 over UMass. The Minutewomen bats came out with a new energy that hadn’t been seen all game, scoring two runs to bring them in striking distance. Brooke Musch struck out to end the inning with two runners on base. Then came a quiet seventh inning, resulting in the Wildcats’ victory.
“I thought [Bethune-Cookman] made the plays when they needed to,” head coach Danielle Henderson said. “That’s why we have seven innings and you need to show up all seven innings,”
The Wildcats established their lead at the top of the third. After a single and a walk, Bethune-Cookman had runners on second and third base. In her first at-bat of the game, Janel Morrisey ripped it past UMass’ shortstop, scoring a double and bringing in two runners.
Through the Minutewomen’s slow start offensively, Odyssey Torres was a bright spot, notching two doubles on her first two trips to the plate. She came out swinging in the first with a double, eventually scoring a run off a hit from Riley Kairer. Torres’ double in the third spelled a possible spark for UMass, but was ultimately squandered.
The Minutewomen came into the game off a week spent in Florida after the Joan Joyce Classic, as weather constraints kept them from flying. UMass came out of the gate with energy, but couldn’t sustain it.
“We’re not down here on vacation, we’re here to play, and we needed to come out with that energy,” Henderson said.
Emma Bradley-Tse led the Wildcats’ offensive charge with two runs, as well as going 3-of-3 at the plate with an RBI off a bases-loaded single in the sixth. Kweenkennahlae Tauala had a big day on both sides of the ball for Bethune-Cookman. The freshman made a career high in multiple categories, including eight put-outs against The Minutewomen after pitching four innings against Bellarmine just hours prior.
Olivia Packard came up big for UMass on offense and defense. The senior recorded six put-outs while grabbing two RBIs and going 3-of-3 at bat.
Kelsey Blanchette continued her freshman campaign for the Minutewomen with a 7.88 ERA in 5.1 innings pitched. Relief pitcher Olivia Cutuli stepped in for 42 pitches, giving up no runs despite allowing four hits in just 1.2 innings.
UMass was scheduled to play a matchup against Siena, but it was cancelled due to weather conditions, leaving three more games to play. The Minutewomen look to turn the tides and get back to winning ways. Coming out and sustaining high energy will be important for their success. On Saturday, Feb. 28, they start with a double header against Monmouth at 12:30 p.m. and the Knights at 3 p.m.
“[Bellarmine] looked like they hit well, so we have to match up our pitching to hold them off a little bit and score some runs,” Henderson said.
UMass will round out the weekend with a matchup against Illinois State at 11:30 a.m. All three games can be streamed on AthletesGoLive.
Shelby Ball can be reached at [email protected].
