DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Powered by a five-hit shutout from junior hurler
Kaitlyn Shirshac, the UMass Dartmouth softball team split action at its home-opening doubleheader against Johnson & Wales University. The Corsairs posted a 2-0 victory in game two, while the Wildcats were 3-1 winners in game one. UMD improves to 8-4 on the season, while JWU is 7-5 overall.
In the game two victory, it was a pitcher's duel until the Corsairs half of the third as sophomore
Jill Walsh reached on an error by the second baseman. Walsh would advance to second following a ground out by classmate
Kinu Takasugi, rounding toward home and crossing the plate before Corsair grad student
Leah Major was caught in a rundown.
After a 1-2-3 inning for the visitors, UMD saw grad student
Jill Richards step up to the plate, cracking a solo shot deep over the left field wall for the 2-0 advantage. Shirshac continued to dominate, striking out the side swinging in the top of the seventh to end the game.
Richards went 1-for-1 with a run scored and a run batted in, while Shirshac moved to 4-0 on the season, striking out five batters while allowing no walks and just five hits over 7.0 innings.
For the Wildcats, junior Sage Borkowski shouldered the loss in the circle, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits over 6.0 innings. She struck out one and walked one.
Game one saw the Corsairs take the early lead in the bottom of the fourth as grad student Lindsey Chubbuck singled up the middle to drive in a run. The Wildcats battled back in the top of the sixth, tying the game as junior Hailey Erickson reached on a fielder's choice with two on, seeing the runner come in from third.
JWU continued to press two batters later as grad student Megan Antaya singled up the middle, driving in two runs for the 3-1 lead that they would not surrender.
Sophomore Katie Scheid earned the victory for the Wildcats, surrendering four hits (one unearned run) with three strikeouts and no walks.
UMD saw Richards pitch 5.2 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. She struck out seven, walking three. Sophomore
Rahne Turley came on for the final 1.1 innings, allowing just one hit while striking out three.
The Corsairs return to action on Tuesday, traveling to Bridgewater State for a doubleheader against the Bears. Game times are set for 2:30pm and 5pm.
