GORHAM, Maine- After taking an early lead over the #1 seed University of Southern Maine, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth couldn't battle back in the top of the seventh, falling to the hosts 10-8.
The Corsairs struck first, starting the scoring early in today's offensive showdown. Senior
Leah Major (Fairhaven, Mass.) singled and found herself in scoring position after a single from classmate
Kylie Fletcher (Dighton, Mass.). Major crossed the plate as senior
Jill Richards (Kingston, Mass.) groundout. An RBI double from junior
Lindsay Chubbuck (Berkley, Mass.) gave UMassD a 2-0 lead at the end of the inning. The Huskies made it a tie game in the bottom of the second on a two-RBI double from senior Sam Hauck (Painted Post, N.Y.).
UMassD quickly countered, taking their biggest lead of the game in the top of the third inning. Fletcher ripped a triple to left field and was brought home when Richards sent a double in the other direction. Richards crossed the plate as Chubbuck reached first. She came home as sophomore
Lynsie Miracle (Richland, Wash.) took first on an error. Senior
Julia Sorrentino (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) gave the Corsairs a 6-2 lead.
Southern Maine rallied in home half of the third, evening the score at 6-6. The Huskies took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth, going up 8-6 and kept their bats hot in the bottom of the fifth, extending the lead to 10-6.
The Corsairs weren't going down without a fight, as Fletcher and Richards each drove in a run. But, UMassD couldn't take down the top team in the Little East Conference. Three Corsairs spent time in the circle. Richards, the starter, allowed eight hits and six runs (four earned) in her three-inning appearance. Freshman
Kaitlyn Shirshac (Enfield, Conn.) pitched an inning of relief and was tasked with the loss. Junior
Anna Kerwood (Florence, Mass.) closed out the game for the Corsairs, allowing just two hits and no runs in two innings.
The Huskies move on to a best-of-three LEC Championship series against #2 seed Eastern Connecticut.
