BOSTON, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts-Boston put up four crooked numbers in a five-inning span between both games of Saturday's Little East Conference doubleheader and went on to hand the Keene State College softball team a pair of 9-1 run-rule shortened losses at the UMB Softball Field.
In need of a pair of victories not only to stop their six-game losing streak, but also to have a chance to qualify for the conference tournament and finish in the top six, the Owls (16-21, 4-12 LEC) were knocked out of contention for that spot after losing the opener and then saw the Beacons (24-11, 8-8 LEC) sow up that spot by finishing off the sweep. The University of Southern Maine also had a chance to take the No. 6 seed had they swept Western Connecticut State University (1-15 LEC), which they did, but the Huskies would have needed KSC to take one on the road today.
There was no question progress for a young Owl team this year, with first year
Anna Gostkowski hitting .299 and driving in 15 while the rookie class as a whole combined to drive in 74 of their 182 runs on the season (41 percent).
Gianna Garofola smacked three home runs and drove in 20 in her first collegiate season, while
Elyse Picard and
Abby Weiterman, both juniors, tied for the team RBI lead with 39 and were just three short of tying the KSC single-season record. Picard struck out only nine times on the season, and finished with a mighty .465 average with five home runs. Weiterman helped form a strong duo, hitting .363 herself, while senior
Kalle Halvorsen hit .363. After hitting .263 as a team a year ago, the Owls finished at .296 this year. KSC also played a tougher schedule and picked up strong victories over Middlebury College and now LEC top seed Vermont State University Castleton while also snapping their losing streak against Eastern Connecticut State University and was in a league that, NPI-wise, had better numbers with six teams ranked in the top 122.
But no question what head coach Haley Chandler and the Owls will likely be bothered by all season was the finish. After beating Southern Maine 5-2 on Senior Day April 18 to move to 4-4 in the conference, KSC did not win within the league again and was denied a chance at getting postseason experience with their young team, falling twice to the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, twice at Rhode Island College, twice at home against Plymouth State University, and twice today in Boston. In those eight league games, they were limited to only 12 runs and fell victim to a number of huge innings by the opponent, such as in the opener of the twinbill at home against UMD seeing a 2-2 game in the fifth turn into a 12-2 game.
It was a similar formula for UMass-Boston today, as they scored four times on four hits in the third of the opener to break a scoreless tie. Mary Matthews began the inning with a double and then moved to third on a hard-hit ball back to the pitcher by Ella Delisle that went off
Ashley Connor and prevented KSC from getting any outs. Delisle then took second, and the Beacons opened the scoring with a bunt base hit by Sofie Richland. A walk and a fielder's choice then made it 2-0 before RBI singles by Hayley Krockta and Mya Perron doubled the lead. Down four, Picard and Weiterman each got consecutive one-out base hits in the fourth as KSC looked for a response, but neither advanced any further. The Owls did get on the board in the fifth when Halvorsen singled back to the pitcher on a slowly hit grounder to make it 4-1 and brought the tying run to the plate in the form of Picard, but she lined a 1-2 pitch to second that was caught by Avery Weinstein. KSC's momentum was fleeting, as two singles and an error to begin the bottom half loaded the bases and Izzy Levasseur then came through with a three-run double to make it 7-1. A bunt single and a fielder's choice then put two in scoring position, and Delisle ended the game with a two-run single to center.
It did not take UMass-Boston long to take control of the nightcap, as after the Owls went down 1-2-3 in the first, the home team had a 3-0 lead before KSC recorded an out as Richland walked on a full count, Liv Wentworth singled, both runners stole, and then Lauren Miner launched a three-run blast to right. It was 8-0 before the Owls got their first baserunner, as Wentworth connected for an RBI base hit in the third ahead of a grand slam by Miner, who had seven RBI and eight on the day – now with 10 home runs and 50 RBI while hitting .423 with a 1.317 OPS this season.
Keene State stranded a pair in the third but spoiled the shutout in the fourth, where they recorded three of their four hits in the game including an RBI single by Halvorsen. The Owls could not get any closer, though, as the next seven were retired in order before a walk, bunt single, sacrifice bunt, and another free pass set the table for Krockta to end it early with a base hit into right.
Marina Gronbach (1-2) took the loss in the second game, allowing five hits an eight runs with two walks. Lauren Meade improved to 10-5 when six innings of one-run ball, allowing four hits with one walk and six strikeouts.
Connor (3-7) took the loss in the opener, allowing nine hits and eight runs (six earned) in four innings with three walks. Lexus McIntosh (9-4) got the win, allowing five hits and one run in five innings with no walks and three whiffs.
"It is not the result we anticipated if you asked us earlier in the season," said KSC head coach Haley Chandler. "We just have to keep working harder. Thank you to our seniors for leading our team and helping to move the needle of our program."
Until the recent skid, the Owls were over .500 all season and have a building block of seven first years, two sophomores, and four juniors heading into 2026. KSC, which had won 40 games since the turn of the decade over five seasons (one shortened to just 10 games), has 32 wins over Chandler's first two seasons. The Owls graduate seniors Halvorsen and
Morgan Rodrigues, along with team manager
Hayley Townsend.
