Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 CLERMONT, Fla. – The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth softball team recorded a signature win on Thursday as the Corsairs upset their first top-10 ranked opponent in program history, defeating No. 7 Amherst in a 1-0 at Legends Way Ballfields. Stockton defeated UMass Dartmouth 8-2 in the nightcap to split the twinbill.
The Basics
Score: UMass Dartmouth 1, Amherst 0 (Game One) | UMass Dartmouth 2, Stockton 8 (Game Two)
Records: UMass Dartmouth (6-4) Amherst (4-1), Stockton (7-2)
How it Happened
UMass Dartmouth 1, Amherst 0
Senior Hannah Smith (Attleboro, Mass.) recorded the marquee victory in the program's history, outdueling her opponent in the circle with seven strikeouts to shutout the bats of seventh-ranked Amherst. Freshman Kylie Fletcher (Dighton, Mass.) delivered the game-winning RBI in the top of the fourth when she doubled home the lone run of the game.
The pitchers emerged dominant throughout the game, but especially through the opening three frames. Mammoths' right-hander Gina Pagan (Orinda, Calif.) escaped the span without allowing a hit and striking out six while Smith matched her opponent, scattering one hit and fanning four herself.
In the top of the fourth, the Corsairs got the run they needed to knock off Amherst. It started when Leah Major (Fairhaven, Mass.) laced a single to the left side of the infield before senior Emily Colton (Kington, Mass.) made it back-to-back baserunners with her single off of the glove of the third baseman. Still, with no outs, Fletcher rocketed a double over the head of the center fielder to plate Major with the go-ahead run. Pagan settled in after that, stranding a pair of runners in scoring position to keep the damage to a minimal.
With the lead, Smith zoned in to get out of a jam in the bottom of the fourth and six while setting down the order one-two-three during the fifth. In the final at-bats for Amherst, the Mammoths put together their best offensive span, starting when Alyson Plaman (Bloomington, Minn.) dropped a single into center field. The Mammoths got the runner to third base, but it was Smith and the Corsairs day as the senior righty punched out the final batter to provide the program with its most satisfying victory.
UMass Dartmouth 2, Stockton 8
Maddie O'Gryzek (Norfolk, Mass.) paced the offense of the Corsairs with her fourth multi-hit game of the year in a 2-for-4 performance at the dish while Fletcher, Kaitlyn Hart (Norton, Mass.), and Nicole McSweeney (Bridgewater, Mass.) supplied the other three hits for the team. With a complete game in the earlier contest, Smith logged an additional three innings of work in the second game, being tagged for three runs (one earned).
The Corsairs gained the advantage in the bottom of the first when O'Gryzek led the home-half with a single between the first and second baseman, moving to second later in the inning on a sacrifice bunt before snatching third base with her speed on a fly ball to left field. That set the table for Fletcher who capitalized on the opportunity for her team-leading seventh RBI of the year.
After a scoreless second on both sides, Stockton leveled it at one apiece in the top of the third. The string started with Meg Murzello's (Maple Shade, N.J.) single through the middle before the sophomore swiped second base. With a runner on third base and one out, Alexa Massa (Moorestown, N.J.) dropped down a suicide squeeze down the first base line to plate Murzello with the tying run.
The Ospreys offense erupted for 13 hits in the next three innings combined, plating six runs to take a commanding 7-1 lead in the game. In the bottom of the sixth, UMass Dartmouth snapped the scoreless streak when Colton's grounder to the shortstop brought in O'Gryzek from third. Stockton tacked on a final run in the seventh on junior Carli Shaw's (Bordentown, N.J.) single into left center before setting down the Corsairs in order on the defensive side to take the 8-2 victory.
Inside the Numbers
- UMass Dartmouth edged No. 24 Western Connecticut, 4-3, in 12 innings on April 19, 2014 to register the program's first victory over a nationally-ranked opponent. Corsair pitching coach Shannon Orton registered the victory in the pitching circle for UMass Dartmouth, tossing all 12 innings against the Colonials.
- Smith has been a stalwart so far for the Corsairs pitching staff, tossing a LEC best 31 innings, four complete games, and three victories. She also paces the conference in strikeouts with 29 and has the lowest ERA at 0.78.
- Major has now reached base through seven of her first nine collegiate contests.
- In game two, Hart posted her first career extra-base to snap a seven-game hitless streak.
- Fletcher and Colton each notched their 10th base hits of the season and are tied for second on the team behind O'Gryzek's 14.
- O'Gryzek scored her team-leading 10th run of the season during game two of the double dip.
- The Corsairs are now 2-1 against the Mammoths since 2001, taking a 4-1 victory against them in 2001 and being downed by Amherst 8-1 in 2012.
Up Next
The Corsairs return to action tomorrow at the Sleepy Hollow Athletic Complex in Leesburg, Fla. as it takes on Gordon at 11:30 am following by a meeting with Fitchburg State at 2 pm.
