WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Powered by a comeback seventh inning, the UMass Dartmouth softball team rallied for a 9-7 victory over Allegheny College in spring break action. The Corsairs move to 1-1 overall, while the Gators were handed their first loss and are now 2-1 on the young season.
Holding a 2-1 lead, UMD broke open the contest in the top of the fifth, turning a one-run lead into a 4-1 margin after sophomore infielder
Emily Wilkinson got things going with a single up the middle. With a runner on second, senior infielder
Victoria Rossetti walked, which was followed by a walk to rookie infielder
Emma Talpey for a bases loaded situation with two outs. A sac fly by graduate student
Leah Major brought in rookie outfielder
Sydney Menz from third, while a single to second by Rodas brought Rossetti in for the three-run lead.
The Gators rallied in the bottom of the inning, sophomore infielder Halle Book singled to center then stole second. Belardinelli was up next, singling to advance Book to third, which was followed by a double-steal as Belardinelli took second, while Book stole home for the run.
Allegheny then saw the bases loaded, capitalizing as Godzak walked to score junior outfielder Hadley Horensky. Facing bases loaded once more, the Gators took advantage as Devried homered to left for the grand slam and a 7-4 lead, forcing the Corsairs to make a change in the circle as sophomore
Rahne Turley came on for junior hurler
Kaitlyn Shirshac.
The Corsairs rebounded in the top of the sixth as rookie infielder
RaeLynn Perregaux singled with a runner on, advancing to second on a throwing error as Menz came home on the play. Rossetti then singles to third, bringing Perregaux home to close the gap to 7-6.
After shutting down the Gators in the bottom of the frame, the Corsairs responded in the top of the seventh. With runners on second and third, Lyons sent a bunt single to the pitcher, bringing in a run to tie it at 7-7. Piessens then reached on a fielder's choice, sending Richards home for third for the one-run (8-7) lead.
With two outs on the board, Piessens stole second, followed soon after by a walk to Menz. The Corsairs sent Perragaux to the plate, who singled to second as the runner scored to give UMD a 9-7 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.
The Corsairs made quick work of the Gators in the last half of the inning, closing out the contest with a victory for Turley, who went 2.2 innings, allowing no runs or hits, striking out two with a walk. Rodas went 2-for-4 on the day with an RBI and two runs scored, while Lyons was also 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Perregaux was 2-for-3 on the day with a run scored and an RBI, while Richards was 1-for-2 with two runs scored, drawing three walks in the game. Shirshac went 4.1 innings on the day, striking out two batters over that frame.
For the Gators, Belardinelli was 2-for-3 at the plate, also going 6.1 innings from the circle. She allowed seven hits, striking out five batters. Devries was 2-for-4 with five RBI on the day, while Godzak was 1-for-1 with a run scored and an RBI.
UMass Dartmouth returns to the field on Monday, facing Marietta College (2pm) and Thomas College (4:30pm) in Winter Haven, Fla.
