May 19, 2012

Box Score

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Illinois State scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat Massachusetts, 1-0, and end the Minutewomen's season in the NCAA Regional at University Field Saturday.

UMass (38-13) outhit the Redbirds 8-to-2 but were unable to get the timely hits when it mattered most, leaving nine runners on base.

Senior Sara Plourde (36-11) suffered the loss after she struck out 14 and allowed just two hits. She ends the season with 541 strikeouts to rank 11th in the Division I single-season record book. Her career strikeout total of 1,662 in four years will place her eighth all-time in the Division I record book.

For Illinois State in the ninth, Lyndsey Greene drew a one-out walk in the ninth and moved to third on Jahvon Hamilton's double to left-center. Greene came home a batter later on a two-strike wild pitch for the game-winner.

Illinois State (36-22) advanced to a second elimination game against DePaul later Saturday night.

UMass was led on offense by Christine Della Vecchia and Katie Bettencourt who had two hits apiece. Kyllie Magill had a double in the fifth but was stranded on second.

The Minutewomen had a runner on second five times but were unable to advance them any further.