March 18, 2010

Box Score

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Sophomore Nicole Massoni smacked a pair of home runs to lead the Rhode Island softball team (5-8) to a 9-8 victory over Bryant to give the Rams their third straight win.

Massoni finished the game by going 3-for-3 with three RBI. The URI catcher currently leads the team in home runs (5) and RBI (11).

Sophomore pitcher Alison Hartzell picked up the win for the Rams and improved to 3-1 on the year. Hartzell came on in relief and worked 3.0 innings and struck out three.

Bryant jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the first, but the Rams responded with four runs in the top of the second. Senior Darci Borden highlighted the frame for the Rams as she doubled to center field to drive in a pair of runs.

The Bulldogs trimmed Rhody's lead to one in the bottom of the second inning to make the score 4-3. In the top half of the third, Massoni pushed Rhody's lead to two as she smacked her first home run of the afternoon over the center field wall.

Rhody added another run in the top of the fourth thanks to a two-out single by sophomore Brittany Julich, which drove in senior Jackie Kampmeier from third. Kampmeier got on base after an error by the pitcher.

Bryant re-claimed the lead after it plated four runs in the bottom half of the fourth to take a 7-6 lead, but the Rams answered with three runs in the top of the sixth to take a 9-7 lead. Massoni highlighted the frame for the Rams as she drilled her second home run of the game, which drove in two runs.

In the bottom half of the inning, Bryant added one run to cut Rhody's lead to one, but the Bulldogs would not get any closer.

Rhody returns to action, tomorrow as it opens up play in the Delaware State Tournament against Delaware State. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.