AMHERST, Mass. - Junior pitcher Brandice Balschmiter went 12 2/3 innings while striking 20 for a pair of wins (7-0, 7-5) as Massachusetts (16-11) swept Dartmouth (4-13) in the home-opening double-header Wednesday at UMass Softball complex. Junior Whitney Mollica and sophomore Jessica Serio extended their hit streaks to six games as the Minutewomen are winners of 10 of their last 12, including six in a row.

In game one, UMass scored seven runs on seven hits from seven different players as Balschmiter (11-6) gave up just one hit recording a season-high 13 strikeouts for her sixth shutout of the season.

Sophomore Whitney Williams led things off with a triple to right center in the bottom of the first inning. After senior Stacy Cullington walked, she stole second on the next play causing the throw from the Dartmouth catcher to sail into the outfield scoring Williams from third. Mollica put the Minutewomen up by two with a RBI single to left field scoring Cullington from second. Samantha Salato doubled to left field on the next at-bat scoring Mollica from first to make it 3-0.

Sophomore Sarah Reeves added another run in the bottom of the third with a solo home run to left center, her second of the season.

The Minutewomen added three more in the bottom of the fifth on back-to-back doubles by Serio and senior Lauren Proctor to make it 7-0 before Balschmiter closed out the win.

In game two, UMass came back from behind twice including a 0-3 hole to start the game for the 7-5 win. Sophomore Bailey Sanders got the start in the circle but lasted just 1 1/3 innings after giving up three runs on three hits in the top of the second before giving way to Balschmiter. The Minutewomen defense struggled early on as well, giving up one of the three runs on a throwing error in a pick-off attempt at second base.

UMass grabbed one back in the bottom of the second on a RBI single to shortstop by Carly Normandin. Mollica delivered in the next inning on a single up the middle scoring Proctor from second to cut the lead to 3-2. Normandin evened the score at three apiece in the bottom of the fourth with a home run to deep center for her second of the year.

Dartmouth took the lead once again in the sixth inning but UMass used a huge bottom half scoring three runs on four hits, highlighted by an RBI single to center by Serio to collapse the Big Green for good.

The Minutewomen remain at home to host Charlotte in a double-header Sunday starting at 12:00 p.m. EST at UMass Softball Complex.