This season has been a roller coaster ride for the University of Massachusetts Boston softball team. Plagued by multiple injuries throughout the year, the Beacons were forced to shuffle lineups with new and old players on a routine basis.
Although the team lost 12 consecutive games after earning a 5-2 victory over Rhode Island College on April 11, UMass Boston (6-24) ended its regular season on a high note with a pair of wins over UMass Dartmouth on Senior Day this past Saturday. While the wins were especially gratifying for seniors Michelle Zullo, Samantha Hemstock, Kristina Bove, Lyndsey Capra, and Kirsten Morrison in their final regular season games, they were not enough to send the Beacons to the LEC Tournament, although they did have a shot at a berth if UMass Dartmouth prevailed over Rhode Island College.
“We just had our senior games on Saturday and swept Dartmouth which put us in a good position to make the tournament,” said Morrison after the wins. “We are waiting to see if we make playoffs and will find out Tuesday after RIC and Dartmouth play their game.”
Without two wins over the Corsairs, UMass Boston’s playoff hopes would have vanished. In the bottom half of the first inning of the first game of the doubleheader, the Beacons’ bats illustrated the team’s urgency when they put up three runs. With a lead in hand, freshman pitcher Kaera Wyse threw a gem, striking out 12 batters to help UMass Boston earn a 3-2 win. That wasn’t the first time Wyse overpowered opponents, however, as the freshman posted a double-digit strikeout total for the third time this season—a new program record. 
At the plate, it was the seniors who helped the Beacons garner an early lead. Hemstock, Morrison, and Capra each had an RBI hit in the first inning, as UMass Dartmouth took the loss after allowing five hits.
In the second game of the doubleheader, the team’s bats stayed hot, as Morrison and Hemstock combined to go 6-for-7 with four runs scored and four RBIs to help the Beacons earn an 8-3 victory. Following the freshman’s strong pitching performance in game one, Zullo took the circle in game two and allowed only six hits and three runs in her seven innings of work.
Morrison, a volleyball and basketball star who joined the team following its early season trip to Florida, said there is no denying a championship bond among the players.
“I know the chemistry I felt on the field this year was outstanding,” Morrison said. “The senior class was amazing with their hard work, leadership, and positive attitude throughout the season. It’s very bittersweet to be ending my career here at UMass [Boston], the memories and second family I’ve made here is something I’ll never forget.”
Only Haley Dutton and Emily Gray will return as seniors next season, while the 2016 Beacons will bring back seven underclassmen from this year’s team. Wyse will likely take over the reigns as the team’s ace pitcher during her sophomore campaign, as she struck out a team-high 66 batters in her debut season. Although Morrison and Hemstock led the Beacons’ batters with averages of .412 and .392, respectively, sophomore Gia Racskowski will likely be a key component to the team’s offense next season after hitting for a .344 average this year.
Although the Beacons didn’t return to the Tournament, there is no doubt they laid the foundation for a bright future with their sweep over UMass Dartmouth on Senior Day. Although those wins marked the end of this season, Morrison said she expects UMass Boston to bounce back next year, as many of the players will have gained an extra season of experience.
“I’m pretty sure next year they have a lot of recruits coming in which will be great,” she said. “This season was tough with multiple injuries and players being out. The team was pretty young as well, so [next year] they will have some strong returners coming back to help push the incomers and show them what UMass [Boston] softball is all about.”