May 19, 2007

AMHERST, Mass. - For the second straight day, senior Candice Molinari had the game-winning hit as Massachusetts defeated Long Island, 7-3, in an elimination game of the NCAA Softball Amherst Regional Saturday evening at the UMass Softball Complex.

This time, Molinari had a two-out, two-run double in the top of the sixth inning breaking a 3-3 tie and finished the game 3-for-4. UMass had 11 hits on the day and saw Long Island rally back from two different deficits. Sophomore Brandice Balschmiter improved to 29-9 with the complete-game win. She allowed three earned runs on six hits while walking one and striking out three. Balschmiter was helped by three double-plays in the field behind her. UMass now advances to the Sunday's regional final against No. 1 Oklahoma at Noon. The Minutewomen will need to defeat the Sooners twice for a spot in next week's Super Regionals.

The day began when Lauren Eckermann tossed a four-hit shutout with no walks and six strikeouts as the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners defeated Massachusetts, 2-0, in the winner's bracket.

The loss snaped the Minutewomen's overall winning streak at 27 games and home winning streak at 33. UMass had a runner in scoring position three times against Eckermann, but were unable to scratch across a run. Sophomore Brandice Balschmiter lost for the first time in 22 starts as she fell to 28-9 on the season. Only one of the runs was earned and she yielded seven hits while walking three and striking out four.

UMass will again face Oklahoma in the championship series Sunday at noon. The Sooners will need to be defeated twice for the right to advance into next week's Super Regionals. Live video, audio and stats of every game from the 2007 NCAA Softball Amherst Regional are available free of charge via the tournament central link at www.umassathletics.com. Fans wishing to listen to the UMass broadcast with Bob Behler and Matt Goldstein can access it at www.umassathletics.com via SportsJuice. Tickets to the remaining games of the Amherst Regional are available at the UMass Softball Complex gates on game-day. Adult tickets cost $10 while UMass students and children get in for $5 a day.