Box Score MANSFIELD, Conn. – Powered by two home runs, a season-high 14 hits and a complete game effort from pitcher
Jill Richards, the UMass Dartmouth softball team posted an 10-1 victory over Castleton University in the ninth game of the Little East Tournament.
The second-seeded Corsairs (28-12) survive the elimination game and advance to Saturday's Championship Game, where they will once again face top-seeded Eastern Connecticut State at 12pm. UMD must win two games to take this year's LEC Championship, while the undefeated Warriors need just one win for the crown. Saturday's match-up marks the second straight year the two teams have faced one another in the LEC Championship.
After a scoreless opening inning, the Corsairs struck in the top of the second as the Corsairs saw second baseman
Larissa Piessens homer over the left field wall. A batter later, catcher
Lindsay Chubbuck made it a 2-0 game as she plated the ball in nearly the same spot for the second dinger of the game. The Corsairs added a third run as with bases loaded, Richards drew the walk, allowing the third run to come in.
In the top of the third, UMass added another score as Piessens opened with a double. With two outs on the board, right fielder
Sydney Menz singled to center to bring in the run. Piessens played the hero once again in the top of the fourth, singling home
Dyonna Rodas for a 5-0 margin.
The top of the fifth saw the Corsairs with a runner on after a double by first baseman
Hailey Lyons. Menz stepped up to the plate, cracking a triple to bring in the run for the 6-0 margin. Facing a two-on situation later in the frame, Rodas singled to left, bringing both runners home for the 8-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the frame, the Spartans bounced back as a double by Hannah Mosher got things going. She came home a play later as Kate Lapan grounded to second, allowing the runner to score.
The Corsairs played strong over the final two innings, adding two runs in the top of the seventh, while holding off the Spartans to close out the victory and move on to the championship game.
Piessens had an outstanding effort, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, while Menz was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI. Rodas was 3-for-5 with a run scored and two RBI, while Chubbuck had an RBI. In the circle, Richards went 7.0 innings, allowing just one run on five hits with three strikeouts.
For Castleton, Lauren Ross shouldered the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits. She had one strikeout in 1.2 innings pitched. Olivia Joy came on for 2.2 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with a strikeout.
