The USM women’s softball team showed their offensive prowess last week, sweeping UMass Boston 11-3 and 8-2 in their first “real” home doubleheader Tuesday afternoon.
The Huskies, who have been playing their scheduled home games at St. Joseph’s and the University of New England’s fields because theirs was unplayable, finally got to step on their home grass.
The team has been frustrated always playing on the road, said head coach Bonny Brown-Denico. But they took full advantage of their first game at home and came out firing right from the start.
Senior Kristina Grondin (Sanford) paced the Huskies to an early 8-0 lead in the second inning with a three-run homer over the left-field fence, adding to an already impressive offensive output.
With Beacon pitcher Courtney Houles on the mound, the Huskies managed to scatter 11 hits over five innings, including two hits from freshman Sarah Deroche (Portland) and a triple from freshman Devon Carroll (Plymouth).
“Were a pretty young team,” said Denico, “but we’re progressing.” She explained by saying that though the Huskies know how to hit, their defense has struggled because the team is so young.
Against the Beacons, the women stood behind sophomore hurler Larissa O’Connor (Farmington) as she pitched her second win of the season by only allowing two runs in three innings off of four hits and a walk.
In the second game of the doubleheader it was much the same for the Huskies-their offense started out strong in the first frame with three runs coming across the plate, including an RBI triple from Grondin.
Grondin also dominated on the mound, striking out five and only allowing five hits and two runs in seven innings.
Grondin, the only senior on the team earned, her sixth win of the season.
“Kristina pitched really well,” said Denico.
The Huskies scored two more runs in the fourth to take a 5-0 lead into the fifth.
UMass Boston came back with one in the fifth, but the Huskies countered, scoring three more times in their half of the fifth, securing an 8-1 lead. The Beacons had one more chance to gain momentum in the top of the seventh, but Grondin took out the next two batters, and the score was sealed at 8-2.
Deroche led the second game with two runs batted in, and Grondin led the night, with four hits and five RBI’s over the doubleheader.
See the Huskies at home all week – they play doubleheaders against Plymouth, St. Joe’s and Bridgewater State on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. The first game starts at 3:30 each day.