Leah Major Hits First-Career Home Run in Sweep at Keene State

KEENE, N.H. – It took until her fifth year for Leah Major to knock one out of the park as the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth softball team swept Keene State, 10-6 in eight innings and 6-2 Friday afternoon.
 
The Corsairs (25-8-1, 9-3 LEC) remain in second place in the Little East Conference standings, while the Owls (12-20, 2-10 LEC) have un uphill climb to make the conference tournament.
 
GAME ONE
It took until the eighth inning for UMass Dartmouth to bring across six runs and take a 10-6 victory from Keene State.
 
Not only did 5th-year senior Jill Richards earn her 13th win of the season with seven strikeouts, she went 3-for-5 at the plate with four RBI and a run scored. Sophomore Hailey Lyons and freshman Larissa Piessens each finished with two hits.
 
Keene State jumped ahead to a 2-0 advantage in the second on a throwing error that allowed two runs to cross the plate.
 
UMass Dartmouth immediately took a 3-2 advantage in the third. Junior Victoria Rossetti and freshman Kinu Takasugi each reached. A bunt from Major, and an RBI groundout by senior Lindsay Chubbuck gave the Corsairs a 3-2 advantage.
 
An RBI triple and a sacrifice fly put the Owls back on top, 4-3, in the home half of the third.
 
It took until the sixth for UMass Dartmouth to even the score at four. Senior Averi Soared singled and eventually advanced to third, classmate Kate Condon drove her in with a base hit to tie the game and send it to extras.
 
A six run eighth put it away. After Rodas, Takasugi, and Major loaded the bases, Richards cleared the bases with a double to center field. Piessens then drove in Richards to make it a 10-4 lead.
 
Keene State plated two more runs in the bottom of the eighth, but it was not enough as Richards forced a groundout to end the game.
 
GAME TWO
Major and sophomore Dyonna Rodas homered in the late innings in UMass Dartmouth's 6-2 win in game two over Keene State.
 
Sophomore Kaitlyn Shirshac picked up her 11th win of the year, allowing only two earned on six hits with seven strikeouts over six innings.
 
Keene State took a 2-0 lead in the third on a two-run home run.
 
UMass Dartmouth quickly took the lead in the fourth. Chubbuck, Richards and freshman Ella Bealieau loaded the bases, Piessens then reached on a fielder's choice for one run, and an error allowed the second to score. Soares then doubled to center to make it a 3-2 UMassD advantage.
 
After junior Linsey Miracle led the fifth off with a single, Major crushed her first-career home run over the left-field fence to extend the lead to 5-2.
 
Rodas added an insurance run in the seventh with a leadoff solo shot to left to complete the sweep.
 
UP NEXT
UMass Dartmouth is at Castleton for a doubleheader at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sunday.