STORRS—Julia Bacoulis threw a one-hitter with 16 strikeouts and three walks as Masuk defeated Cheshire, 3-0, in a huge non-conference, regular season showdown at UConn’s Burrell Family Field on Wednesday.
The Panthers, the third ranked team in the state, according to GametimeCT, scored two runs in the top of the second and added an insurance run in the seventh as they improved to 8-1 on the season.
Cheshire, which took over the No. 1 spot from Masuk this week after the Panthers lost to Brookfield, slipped to 11-2.
Alyssa Castillo, who is taking her talents to the University of Bridgeport next season, opened the second inning with a five-pitch walk. Courtesy runner Peyton Webb immediately replaced Castillo on first base.
With one out, Ciena Perpetuo laid down a bunt that turned into an error that allowed Webb to score all the way from first base, giving Masuk a 1-0 lead.
Later in the inning, following Aubrey Zvovushe-Ramos walk and a bunted out, Sofia Lieto delivered a single that plated Perpetuo to make it a 2-0 game.
From there, Bacoulis and Cheshire’s Jenica Matos (15 Ks, 4 walks, 1 earned run) were locked in a pitcher’s duel.
In the seventh, Bacoulis hit a solo home run with one out to make it a 3-0 game.
She then struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh to ice the win.
Lieto and Bacoulis, slotted in the top two spots of the Masuk line-up, were both 2-for-4 with an RBI. Bacoulis also had a double.
Grace Ely and Madison Aguirre had the other hits for Masuk against the St. John’s-bounced Matos.
For Cheshire, Ava Pearson singled in the third inning for the Rams’ lone hit. Earlier in the inning, though, Lyla Blair had walked, was sacrificed to second and Pearson’s base knock put runners on first and third.
After Tai Bird walked to load the bases, Bacoulis got a strikeout to stop the threat.
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