DARTMOUTH, Mass. – The UMass Dartmouth softball team posted a walk-off victory in the eighth and saw two pitching gems as the Corsairs swept Western Connecticut State, 2-1 and 2-0 in Little East Conference action on Friday afternoon. UMD improves to 23-10 overall and 10-4 in the LEC, while the Wolves are now 19-19 and 4-10 in conference play.
Locked in a 1-1 tie through regulation, the Corsairs saw their backs against the wall with two outs on the board. Rookie third baseman
RaeLynn Perregaux drew the walk to set up the play as Piessens stepped to the plate. She sent a double to right center that fell to the wall as Perregaux raced around the base path, sliding in for the game-winner.
The Corsairs got on the board first in the game after center fielder Kinu Takisugi walked, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by shortstop
Leah Major. Catcher
Dyonna Rodas reached first on an error, but Takasugi was able to come around to score on the throw for the 1-0 lead. WestConn got their run in the top of the fifth as a sacrifice bunt from first baseman Amber Roggendorf brought in the runner on third to tie it up.
Pitching was dominant on both sides of the diamond as Corsairs junior hurler
Kaitlyn Shirshac threw another gem this season. Shirshac went the distance, moving to 13-2 on the season after allowing just one run on five hits over 8.0 innings. She struck out a season-high 11 batters and no walks while throwing 110 pitches on the afternoon. For the Wolves, junior Sydney Chenoweth allowed just two runs on six hits with three strikeouts and two walks over 7.2 innings.
Game two was once again a tight battle to start, but the Corsairs opened the action in the bottom of the third as catcher
Lindsay Chubbuck singled to left center. Takasugi came on to pinch run, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior outfielder
Victoria Rossetti. With two outs on the board, shortstop
Leah Major walked, which was followed by a single to right field by Rodas to score the run.
Next up was the pitcher,
Jill Richards, who helped her own cause with a single up the middle, scoring Major for the 2-0 lead. Perregaux walked but the Corsairs were unable to add as sophomore hurler Olivia Bordenaro got Piessens to pop up and end the inning.
The Wolves nearly got on the board in the top of the fourth as rookie Isabella Pincince singled to right with one out on the board. Her hit was followed by another single to right, this time from classmate Alexis Resto. Despite runners on first and second, Richards got the Wolves to pop and fly out to end the threat.
In the top of the seventh, Resto singled to left as the Wolves looked to get back into the game. But Richards proved outstanding once again, retiring the side for the victory. She finished with just three hits allowed in the 7.0 inning shutout, adding seven strikeouts as she improved to 9-7 on the season. Rodas and Richards each posted a hit with an RBI.
For the Wolves, Bordenaro went 4.0 innings, allowing a run on four hits to shoulder the loss. She struck out one and walked four. She gave way to senior Hailey Golembiewski, who allowed no runs and no hits over 2.0 innings, adding a strike out and a walk.
Friday's game also marked the final regular season LEC home games for four Corsairs, highlighted by senior
Victoria Rossetti, who was honored with a final run around the bases following the doubleheader. The Corsairs also recognized grad students
Leah Major,
Jill Richards and
Lindsay Chubbuck with their last run around the bases.
The Corsairs return to action on Tuesday, traveling to Brandeis for a doubleheader against the Judges. Game times are set for 3pm and 5pm.
