CLERMONT, Fla. - Two more wins in Florida over Wheaton (Ill.) (4-2) and Haverford (11-7) have the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth softball team off to a 5-0 start for the first time since 2017. The Corsairs pitching was the deciding factor in game one, while the team rallied from behind in game two. The Thunder drop to 1-2, while the Fords fall to 0-3.
VS. WHEATON (ILL.)
5th-year senior
Jill Richards started in the circle and threw a complete game with one earned run on six hits and six strikeouts with no walks. 5th-year senior
Leah Major was 1-for-3 with two RBI, while sophomore
Hailey Lyons drove in a run on a double. Senior
Averi Soares and freshman
Kinu Takasugi each finished with two hits and two runs scored. Takasugi added a pair of stolen bases.
Takasugi got it started in the first with a base hit and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Lyons brought Takasugi home with an RBI double to make it a 1-0 lead.Â
Richards faced only 14 batters over the first four innings to maintain the slim advantage. UMass Dartmouth made it a 3-0 game in the fifth. Soares singled and advanced to third on a base knock by Takasugi, who then stole second, forcing a throwing error for Soares to score, and took third in the process. A fielder's choice from Major brought Takasugi home to make it 3-0.
Wheaton scored its first run in the sixth off an RBI double. UMass Dartmouth answered right away in the top of the seventh when Major drove in two on a two-RBI single.Â
A fielder's choice sent home the second run for Wheaton in the bottom of the frame, but Richards forced an infield popout to finish the game.
VS. HAVERFORD
Lyons drove in three runs and scored a pair on a 2-for-4 day, junior
Victoria Rossetti had a perfect 3-for-3 day with two RBI and two runs scored, and Soares went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a runs scored.
Takasugi drew three walks and went 1-for-1 at the plate with two runs scored, an RBI, and two stolen bases. Freshman
Larissa Piessens and sophomore
Dyonna Rodas each collected a hit, while Rodas crossed the plate for a run.
UMass Dartmouth trailed 5-4 after two innings, and a found themselves even at seven after five. The sixth inning is when the Corsairs broke it open with four runs.
Sophomore
Kaitlyn Shirshac tossed a complete game with five strikeouts and five earned runs on 10 hits to improve to 3-0.
UP NEXT
The Corsairs play next on Wednesday against Penn State Dubois at 1:30 p.m. and Mount Mary at 4 p.m.
