Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 MANSFIELD, Conn.— The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth gave nationally-ranked Eastern Connecticut State University all they could handle in the opener, but the Warriors launched a walk-off home run to escape the Corsairs' upset bid, 13-12. Eastern Connecticut completed the Little East Conference doubleheader sweep with a 9-0 victory in the nightcap.
GAME 1 | Eastern Connecticut 13, UMass Dartmouth 12
The top of the UMass Dartmouth (0-7-1, 0-4 LEC) lineup set the table for the visitors in the opener as the first three batters accounted for seven of the Corsairs' 12 hits. Freshman Haley Lyons (Hayden, Idaho) went 3-for-4 with a walk and three RBI, and senior
Kylie Fletcher (Dighton, Mass.) and
Leah Major (Fairhaven, Mass.) each pounded out two base knocks. Senior
Jill Richards (Kingston, Mass.) contributed a pair of hits from the No. 5 spot.
UMass Dartmouth jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage in the first inning, when Lyons doubled to centerfield to score Major. The Corsairs loaded the bases with one out and drew a pair of RBI walks before Eastern Connecticut (12-0, 4-0 LEC) was able to escape the jam. The Warriors responded with six runs in the bottom of the first and four in the second to build a 10-4 advantage.
Unfazed by Eastern Connecticut's offensive attack, UMass Dartmouth whittled its deficit to 10-7 with single runs in the next three innings, but Eastern Connecticut padded its advantage to 12-7 with a two-run fifth.
The Corsairs utilized some two-out magic in the top of the sixth to jumpstart their feverous rally. After a pair of walks put a runner in scoring position, Fletcher delivered a RBI single into right field. Major followed suit with a two-run base hit to centerfield to close the gap to 12-10. UMass Dartmouth continued to apply the offensive pressure in the top of the seventh as Richards led off with a double to chase the Warriors starting pitcher. The visitors benefitted from a pair of Eastern Connecticut defensive miscues to forge a 12-all tie.
Graduate student Cassie Woods (Mystic, Conn.) led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a solo home run over the centerfield fence to score the decisive run.
Junior Brooke Matyasovsky (Orange, Conn.) recorded the final three outs of the seventh to earn the victory. Freshman
Kaitlyn Shirshac (Enfield, Conn.) earned a no-decision for the visitors, while Richards suffered the setback.
GAME 2 | Eastern Connecticut 9, UMass Dartmouth 0
Matyasovsky limited the Corsairs to just three hits and four walks to earn the complete-game. The right-hander recorded 10 ground outs and needed 62 pitches to raise her record to 6-0.
Eastern Connecticut lifted a pair of home runs over the left field fence to build an early 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Junior Carley Stoker (Sandy Creek, N.Y.) opened the scoring with a three-run shot, while senior Megan Hodgdon (Cheshire, Conn.) followed with a two-run homer to cap the inning. The Warriors added single runs in the second and third, but closed out the scoring with Hodgdon's second round tripper of the afternoon.
Richards registered her third loss of the season in two innings of work, while freshman
Abby Bedient (Windham, N.H.) tossed two innings in relief.
UMass Dartmouth and Eastern Connecticut will return to action at 1pm, when the Warriors travel to Dartmouth for a non-conference doubleheader.
