MANSFIELD, Conn. - A consistent offensive effort from the start paced the Eastern Connecticut State softball team past UMass Dartmouth in the Little East Conference Semifinals on Friday. The top-seeded Warriors move to 28-8 on the season, advancing to Saturday's championship game at 12pm. The Corsairs are now 27-12 overall and will play in tonight's 6pm elimination game against the winner of the 3pm game between #4 Castleton and #6 Rhode Island College.
The Warriors got off to a hot start, opening up a 2-0 lead behind and RBI single from outfielder Taylor Darby. In the top of the second, a triple from junior Sarah Remillard drove in a run, while a single to left by Alyssa Vilchez made it a 4-0 contest.Â
Eastern Connecticut owned a 7-0 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh as the Corsairs bats finally came to life. First baseman
Hailey Lyons singled, bringing in second baseman
Larissa Piessens for the 7-1 margin.
Shortstop
Leah Major reached on an error with two on as pinch runner
Kinu Takasugi came around to score. The Corsairs got their third run as designated player
Dyonna Rodas singled to short, bringing in outfielder
Sydney Menz. Despite the momentum, UMD was unable to get closer as the Warriors closed things out for the victory.
Darby led the Warriors with a hit and two RBI, while Julia SanGiovanni was 2-for-4 with an RBI. In the circle, Carley Stoker earned the victory, improving to 15-1 as she went 7.0 innings with three runs allowed (0 earned) on three hits with eight strikeouts and four walks.
For the Corsairs, Rodas had a hit and an RBI. In the circle, junior
Kaitlyn Shirshac shouldered the loss, allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits. Coming on in relief was
Ella Beaulieu, who went 3.1 innings with one run allowed on three hits. She also struck out two batters.
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