AMHERST - A game that lasted over five hours was decided by a split second. With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the 15th inning, Washington's Jen Salling hit a bouncer between third and short.

Whitney Mollica, the senior third baseman, snared it on the second bounce and threw to first. Salling leaned like a sprinter approaching the line and beat the throw. Barely beat it, but beat it nonetheless as pinch runner Dani Stuart trotted in from third.

Her armor cracked, pitcher Brandice Balschmiter struggled. She gave up two straight singles, then a walk. When the dust settled and she walked off the UMass mound for the final time in her storied career, the Huskies had a 6-1 lead.

The Minutewomen got the first two batters aboard in the bottom of the 15th, but a double play dulled any hopes of a miracle comeback and Samantha Salato's strikeout ended them all together.

The game was the longest in both school's histories. The Huskies had gone 13 innings in a loss to Arizona State in 2006, while the Minutewomen edged Princeton 3-2 in a 14-frame contest in 1994.

Balschmiter threw 243 pitches in her last collegiate game. She struck out 13 and walked just one. Her counterpart Danielle Lawrie struck out 24 while throwing 251 pitches.