UMass softball sweeps Dartmouth

AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) - Sara Plourde struck out 16 batters and recorded the seventh no-hitter of her career in a 1-0 game-one victory, and Caroline Raymond was perfect in the circle through five innings in game two and benefited from a three-run home run by Lindsey Webster and a 4-for-4 effort by Audrey Boutin in a 6-2 victory to give UMass
softball (11-14) the home-opening sweep over Dartmouth (5-10) on Wednesday at the UMass Softball Complex.

Plourde (9-10) allowed just three base runners in game one, all coming on walks. She started the game in dominating fashion, striking out the first five batters and finished with the seventh no-hitter of the junior's career, her sixth solo no-hitter, and first this season.

On her 22nd birthday, designated player Stephanie Mayne drove in the lone run of the first game with a second inning single that drove in Tiffany Meeks, who had walked to lead off the inning and advanced on a
Webster bunt. It was Mayne's third RBI of the season and she added her fourth in game two.

Raymond (2-1) was prefect through five innings in game two, not allowing anyone to reach base until Alex St. Romain led off the sixth with a single. After another batter reached, Hillary Barker doubled to right-center to plate both runners and make it a 6-2 game.

After Meghan Everett walked to put two on with no outs, Plourde entered in relief and struck out the side to end the threat in the sixth. She finished with four strikeouts in two innings to give her 20 for the day and the first save of her career.

Kyllie Magill gave the Minutewomen a 2-0 lead in the second inning of game two with a two-out, two-run single that drove in Meeks and Cyndil Matthew, who both singled.

UMass started the fourth inning with three-straight singles to load the bases, but a double play put the Minutewomen in jeopardy of coming away with out any runs. Webster did not allow that to happen as she
blasted one over the left field fence for a three-run home run, the third round-tripper of the year for the freshman, making it a 5-0 game.

Mayne made it 6-0 in the fifth inning with a single to right that knocked in Boutin after she led off with a double.

While Boutins had a career-high four hits, Meeks and Matthew each went 2-for-3 in game two.

The Minutewomen continue their five-game homestand on Sunday when they host Saint Louis in an Atlantic 10 doubleheader at noon.