Box Score PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth softball team rallied for six runs in the top of the sixth inning to overcome a four-run deficit to edge Rhode Island College 13-11 this afternoon at the Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex. The game was halted on Wednesday, April 22 in sixth due to inclement weather and was completed today.
With the win, the Corsairs (8-18, 4-10LEC) secured the sixth and final spot in the upcoming 2015 Little East Conference Softball Championship tournament. UMass Dartmouth will face top-seed and host Eastern Connecticut State University in the tournament opener at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 28. The Anchorwomen (6-26, 2-12 LEC) were eliminated from the tournament with their losses to Keene State on Saturday afternoon.
The top four batters in the Corsair lineup combined to account for seven of the visitors 10 hits, led by freshman Emily Colton (Kingston, Mass.). Colton set the tone at the top of the order, turning in a 2-for-5 showing with two runs scored and four RBI. Sophomore Abby Tremblay (New Bedford, Mass.) went 2-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs, while junior Rachel Carey (Holbrook, Mass.) also produced a multi-hit game.
Trailing 11-7 when play resumed in the top of the sixth, UMass Dartmouth sent nine batters to the plate and scored six runs to take the final lead of the contest. Colton smacked a two-run single and Abby Tremblay picked up a two-run knock of her own to tie the game, 11-11. Freshman catcher Erica Chase (Portsmouth, R.I.) walked with the bases loaded to drive in the go-ahead run, while freshman Hannah Smith (Attleboro, Mass.) gave the visitors an insurance run with a sacrifice fly.
Smith picked up the win (3-5) in relief. She hurled 4.2 innings, allowing just one run on five hits, while striking out six. RIC sophomore reliever Lauren Duvall (East Greenwich, RI) took the loss (2-7).
On Wednesday evening, Rhode Island College raced out to a 7-0 advantage after two complete innings. The Corsairs responded six runs of their own in the top of the third, but the Anchorwomen crossed the plate three times in the bottom half.
