web Charlotte

May 8, 2009

Box Score
Listen Live - Saint Joseph's Game

BRONX, N.Y. – Opportunities were plentiful for the Charlotte 49ers (33-15) softball team in today’s semifinal game, but the # 24/20 Massachusetts Minutewomen (37-8) used back-to-back sixth inning homeruns to drop the Niners to the loser’s bracket of the 2009 Atlantic 10 Softball Championships by a 2-0 tally.

Charlotte was able to tally a pair of runs to get on UMass pitcher Brandice Balschmiter early on, but was unable to tally a run in the first frame. Forty-Niner starter Emily Jeffery rolled through the Minutewomen lineup through three innings, while the Niners put runners at second base in both the second and third innings, to keep the pressure on.

Charlotte saw a golden opportunity in the fourth when Tenaya Tucker reached base on a single to lead off the frame.

Sophomore Kendra McCall would then pinch run for Tucker and advance to second on a Cee Brooks sacrifice bunt before using a delayed steal to get to third base with one away in the fourth.

Back-to-back Niner strikeouts left McCall at third as the game heading to the bottom of the fourth.

UMass would put Jeffery in a fourth inning jam with runners at first and second before an Audrey Boutin single to left looked like it was going to score a run for the Minutewomen.

Sophomore rightfielder Whitney Williams would have other plans as the Mocksville, N.C. native came up gunning and fired out the runner coming home from third to retire the side and keep the game scoreless.

In the sixth inning, Charlotte would work Balschmiter deep into a series of counts before the Minutewomen All-American walked the bases full with two away. Charlotte would let the sacks full in the sixth as senior Jaime West battled hard but eventually struck out to retire the side.

UMass would answer the Niners in the sixth with back-to-back home runs from Whitney Williams and Whitney Mollica at the top of the lineup to take a 2-0 lead.

Jeffery would then shut down the rest of the Massachusetts lineup to hold the score at 2-0.

Charlotte would be unable to establish any offense in the seventh as the 49ers fell to UMass by a 2-0 score.

At the plate, a trio of Niners tallied a hit with Serena Smith and Tucker each having 1-for-2 days to go along with a 1-for-3 day from Sarah Malene.

In the circle, Jeffery (23-9) picked up the loss, tossing six innings of work, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out eight.

For UMass, Williams and Mollica led the way with Mollica having a 2-for-3 day at the plate.

In the circle, Balschmiter (30-4) picked up the victory. She tossed a complete game, three-hit shutout to earn the victory.

Charlotte will now play in the loser’s bracket final tomorrow Saint Joseph’s. Tomorrow’s game is slated for a high noon start at Fordham’s Bahoshy Field.