Richards Throws No-Hitter as Corsairs Run-Rule Huskies in Game One

DARTMOUTH, Mass. - 5th-year senior Jill Richards threw her second no-hitter of the season as the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth run-ruled Southern Maine, 8-0 in five innings, in game one Saturday afternoon. The road team then won a pitchers duel, 2-0, in eight innings to earn the split.

The Corsairs (20-8-1, 5-3 LEC) and the Huskies (13-12, 5-3 LEC) are now tied for the third in the Little East Conference standings behind Eastern Connecticut and Castleton. 

GAME ONE
Richards struck out five with one walk over her five innings of work to complete the no-hitter. UMass Dartmouth scored four runs in the first and four more in the fifth to to put the run rule in place, finishing the game in under an hour.

Senior Lindsay Chubbuck and freshman Larissa Piessens finished 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI, while Richards also had two hits with a run batted in. UMass Dartmouth's eight runs came on nine hits with seven total RBI.

The Corsairs got off to a fast start in the first. Sophomore Dyonna Rodas worked a leadoff walk, 5th-year Leah Major reached on an error, and Chubbuck doubled to center to score both runners. Sophomore Hailey Lyons then reached on a fielder's choice, and Piessens followed with a double to left center to score Lyons. Some heads up base running allowed Piessens to score on a throwing error on the same play to make it 4-0 after one.

Richards breezed through the next four innings, including a two-strikeout top of the fifth to send the Corsairs to their four-run home half.

Rodas singled, Major walked, and Chubbuck got a base hit to load the bases. UMass Dartmouth kept circling the bases on base knocks by Richards and Lyons to make it 6-0. With the bases still juiced, Piessens singled in senior Marisa Minore, who pinch ran, and Averi Soares drove home Richards for the walk-off win.

GAME TWO
It was a pitchers duel between Richards and Southern Maine's sophomore Bella Snyder. The game went scoreless into extras and two runs in the top of the eighth for the Huskies sealed their win.

Richards allowed one earned run on six hits with six K's over eight innings. Snyder tossed a complete-game shutout with six strikeouts and limited UMass Dartmouth to seven hits.

The Corsairs had their best chance to score in the second inning. Lyons and junior Victoria Rosetti each singled, and freshman Kinu Takasugi walked to load the bases, but the threat would come to an end on a flyout to right field.

Both pitchers cruised into extras as each threw a 1-2-3 seventh inning. Southern Maine then loaded the bases in the eighth and a sacrifice fly made it 1-0, and a base hit brought the score to 2-0.

UMass Dartmouth had the tying run on first base in the bottom of the eighth, but the game ended on a strikeout.

SENIOR DAY
Following the games, the team honored its six seniors Lindsay Chubbuck, Kate Condon, Anna Kerwood, Marisa Minore, Lynsie Miracle, and Averi Soares. 5th-year seniors Leah Major and Jill Richards were also recognized. Lead assistant coach Bob Huckabee, who will be retiring after after 30 years of coaching, was honored as well.

UP NEXT
The Corsairs are home on Monday for another key LEC doubleheader against UMass Boston at 12 and 2 p.m.