UMass Boston softball was shut out, 3-0, on April 1 against Framingham State in the second half of a doubleheader. The Beacons grabbed the first game in Framingham, 4-2, but fell for the first time on the year, snapping their program record 15-game winning streak to start a season.
The Beacons were held to just four hits, their lowest total of the season, and Bri Melchionda registered her first loss of the year, giving up all three runs in six full innings. Melchionda, the reigning LEC Pitcher of the Year and UMass Boston’s ace, was tagged for nine hits in her outing against Framingham State. In her last start, she surrendered 10 hits to the now 2-18 Emmanuel College Saints. Both totals are her highest since March 13, 2023, in which Mt. St. Vincent had 11 — UMSV was 21-15 that year. In Melchionda’s five year career, 19 hits is the most she’s ever allowed in two consecutive starts.
However, with a bat in her hand, Melchionda has been molten hot. She was the LEC’s Player of the Week of March 31 after hitting .818 with five RBIs and a home run while slugging 1.273. She earned her 100th career knock against Framingham as well, becoming the second Beacon this season to hit this milestone after Sofie Richland.
Staying hot from the circle is Jacqueline Cherry, with seven wins to zero losses. Coming off a split series with Framingham State, UMass Boston bounced right back and swept Bridgewater State, 10-0, 7-3. Cherry went, and went the whole way, earning just a couple runs and striking out 11 batters in the second game. That brought her ERA down to 1.27, also atop the LEC. She’s been the early frontrunner for this season’s pitcher of the year award.
Izzy Levassuer raked in three RBIs against the Bears, and Gracie Granger had her first career multi-hit game. After their lowest scoring two-game stretch, the Beacons’ bats came alive to outscore Bridgewater State by 14, and outhit them 22-8.
UMass Boston responded well to their first setback, their sweep of BSU bridges their season into in-conference play. Starting Sunday, April 6, the Beacons will play eight straight LEC games. They’ll enter 17-1, and start off against the next-best Rhode Island College first. The Anchorwomen are 12-8 as of April 4, scoring 106 runs in 20 games — but the Beacons have batted 141 in 18.
Their 141 runs is an LEC high by at least seven runs, but what’s more staggering is what they haven’t given up. They allowed just 33 runs all year, 24 fewer than the LEC’s second place, Keene State.
UMass Boston is on pace to smash their program record of 242 runs in a season, set in 2010. At this rate, the Beacons would finish with just over 300. Their pace is record-setting at the plate, and on track from the circle as well: their 1.69 team ERA is well under the program low of 2.13 in 1983.
There’s a lot to chase, and only half the season to do it. As of April 1, the Beacons have yet to receive a vote in the NFCA Division III top 25 poll after six released editions. There’s plenty of opportunity in 2025 for UMass Boston.
