BRONX, NY -- Massachusetts senior Sarah Keagy gave the Minutewomen a 5-1 lead with two swings of the bat in the third and fourth innings and UMass never looked back, defeating host Fordham 8-4 in the first game of the 2024 Atlantic 10 Softball Championship. 

Keagy hit a two run homer to open the scoring in the top of the third and after Fordham responded with one in the bottom half she exceeded her effort from the inning prior with a three run moon shot to left field to make it a 5-1 game. 

Fordham would respond in the bottom of the fourth as Eva Koratsis slashed a two run single to right field to cut the deficit to 5-3. Two more home runs to left field, this time by Massachusetts Jordyn Graime and Chloe Whittier extended UMass' lead to 8-3, which they would never relinquish.

UMass junior Julianne Bolton pitched a complete game for the lower seeded Minutewomen, only allowing two earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts. 

Bailey Enoch pitched two scoreless innings in relief for the Rams, who will try to stave off elimination tonight at 5:00 p.m. against the loser of No. 3 Loyola Chicago and No. 6 Saint Joseph's. 

No. 5 UMass advances to play No. 1 Dayton tomorrow, Thursday, May 9 at noon.