Box Score MANSFIELD, Conn. – The UMass Dartmouth softball team came from behind, posting a 5-4 victory in the bottom of the seventh inning for the win over the University of Southern Maine on Thursday in the Little East Conference Tournament.
The second-seeded Corsairs improve to 27-11 overall and will face top-seeded Eastern Connecticut State at 12pm on Friday afternoon in the Conference Semifinals. The third-seeded Huskies slip to 20-20 on the season and will now face fifth-seeded Rhode Island College later this evening. The loser of that game is eliminated, while the winner takes on fourth-seeded Castleton in the second game on Friday.
Locked in a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Corsairs regained the advantage as a two-out walk to designated player
Dyonna Rodas brought grad student hurler
Jill Richards to the plate. Helping her own cause, Richards drilled the ball into left field and heads-up baserunning by Rodas saw the junior cross the plate for the 4-3 advantage.
UMD saw third baseman
RaeLynn Perregaux draw the walk, but relief pitcher Lexus McIntosh came on to shut down the side and send it into the top of the sixth.
Richards was outstanding in the top of the frame, allowing just one single, but shutting down the Huskies with a pair of strikeouts, bringing the Corsairs to the plate in the bottom of the sixth. McIntosh had a solid inning, allowing just one hit as the teams headed to the pivotal seventh inning.
A lead off double by Lauren Merrill got things going for the Huskies in the top of the seventh, after a quick out, a single from Rona Scott brought the runner around to tie things up a 4-all. The Corsairs were able to sit down the side, heading into the bottom of the frame.
In the bottom of the seventh, UMD made a statement as Rodas led off with a double to left field. After a walk to Richards, the Corsairs sent Perregaux to the plate. She sent a chopper to the third baseman, who misplayed the ball as it careened across the infield. That allowed Rodas to score from second for the 5-4 victory.
Richards earned the win for the Corsairs, going 7.0 innings as she allowed four runs (two earned) on eight hits. She walked just two, while striking out eight batters. Rodas went 2-for-3 on the day with three runs scored and two RBI.
For Southern Maine, starter Belle Snyder was 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI, also pitching 4.2 innings. She allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits with a strikeout and two walks. Migliorini was 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI.
