Softball Grabs First Win, Splits Series with Keene

DARTMOUTH, Mass.- University of Massachusetts sophomore Sky Berube (Dartmouth, Mass.) led the Corsairs with three hits on the way to their 8-5 victory over Keene State College in game two of Thursday afternoon's Little East Conference doubleheader. Keene State won game one 3-1.
 
GAME 1 | Keene State 3, UMassD 1
The Owls struck first off a solo homerun from sophomore Olivia Albert (Old Town, Maine) in the top of the third inning. Keene State followed that with an RBI double from senior Emma Pede (Monroe Township, N.J.) in the top of the fourth.  The Owls Extended their lead in the top of the fifth, going up 3-1 on an RBI double off the bat of senior Alexis Blanchette (Hopkinton, N.H.). Blanchette struck out six in her complete-game performance.

Berube had her first extra base hit of the day in the bottom of the sixth when an RBI double gave the Corsairs their only run of the game. Junior Anna Kerwood (Florence, Mass.) made her second start of the season, sitting down two Owls in her outing.
 
GAME 2 | UMassD 8, Keene State 5
Keene State opened the scoring early in game two on an Albert double that brought home two. The Corsairs countered quickly thanks to an RBI single from senior Jill Richards (Kingston, Mass.) that drove in classmate Leah Major (Fairhaven, Mass.) and freshman Kaitlyn Shirshac (Enfield, Conn.).

The Owls regained the lead in the top of the third on back-to-back RBIs from junior Meg Moran (Cherry Valley, Mass.) and Albert. Berube grabbed her second double of the day, driving in sophomore Lynsie Miracle (Richland, Wash.) and cutting the deficit to 5-3. Berube came home on a single from Major. Sophomore Victoria Rossetti (Valley Stream, N.Y.) kept the runs coming, bringing home two on a single. Senior Julia Sorrentino (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) brought Rossetti home with an RBI single of her own.

Richards earned her first win of the season, allowing nine hits and striking out four. Shirshac closed out the game, allowing just one hit in the first save of her young career. Albert was charged with the loss for Keene State, giving up eight runs on nine hits and striking out three.

The Corsairs hit the road this weekend for another set of Little East Conference contests, taking on Plymouth State on Sunday, April 25 at 12:00PM and 3:00PM. Fans can tune in to littleeast.tv and catch all the action.