With only one senior leading the way, University of Massachusetts Boston’s 2016 softball season is off to a strong start. This season’s team is comprised of one senior, Kristina Bove, five juniors, two sophomores, and an impactful class of eight freshmen. With Bove as the lone senior, along with junior captain Kaitlyn Morse leading the way, this team is proving that age doesn’t define ability. 
The freshmen class is a huge attribution to this season’s team as Annie Thomas holds down the starting pitching position, with freshman Vic Zechello as the back-up pitcher right behind her. 
The softball program for the past several years has spent the majority of their spring breaks playing in Clermont, Florida. This year, the tournament happened from March 12 through March 16 at the NTC Spring Games.
In their season opener, they swept the United States Coast Guard Academy 8-5 with the freshmen showing their talents as Massachusetts natives Taylor Marcotte and Roxanne Vento each led with two hits. Marcotte succeeded in a run and the go-ahead RBI as Vento finished with two RBI and two runs scored. Unfortunately, the double-header day ended with a loss against Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts with a tough 1-0 score.
By the end of the tournament, the Beacons left Florida with an even record of 4-4 which fueled their fire when they faced Bridgewater State University on March 24 for their home opener, double-header. They were ready to be back on their home field, for both freshmen pitchers each produced shutouts against Bridgewater State earning the team a score of 8-0 in the first game and 3-0 in the second.
The action in game one came from the upperclassmen when Morse went 3-for-3 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI. Fellow junior and catcher, Gia Raczkowski, also had an excellent performance with a single, a run, and an RBI. Sophomore Morgan Bishop pulled her weight with the Beacons’ final hit and run scored. 
The upperclassmen continued to lead the way in game two against Bridgewater State as Bove and junior Lauren Mitsiaris each finished with two hits, a run scored, and an RBI. Morse did not disappoint as she went 1-for-2 with two runs scored and a pair of walks.
In their second double-header hosted at home on March 30, the Beacons faced Emmanuel College who gave them a run for their money in the first game with a close UMass Boston victory of 6-5. In the second game, the Beacons did not let Emmanuel touch them as Zechello hurled her second shutout of the season with huge offensive help from Raczkowski and freshman Alexa St. Angelo; both combined for two doubles and a triple. Raczkowski went 3-for-3 with three runs and two RBI, while St. Angelo finished 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBI.
The Beacons are undefeated on their home field but suffered two away-game losses in a double-header against Babson College on March 30. Their record is currently 8-7 and they are headed into their first conference game double-header against Eastern Connecticut State University in hopes of breaking their away game struggle on April 2.