MANSFIELD, Conn. – Rookie
RaeLynn Perregaux singled in the bottom of the 12th inning, scoring a run as the Corsairs defeated Eastern Connecticut State University, 1-0 in 12 innings in the Little East Conference Championship Game. It marks the first-ever tournament crown for the Corsairs, who improve to 30-12 on the season – finishing with at least 30 wins for the second straight season.
UMass Dartmouth is headed to their third appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament and will find out their opponent in next weekend's Regionals on Monday. The Corsairs last appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 1990.
After sitting down the Warriors in the top of 12th, courtesy of junior hurler
Kaitlyn Shirshac's seventh strikeout, the Corsairs headed to the bottom of the frame. With one out on the board, second baseman
Larissa Piessens - the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player - reached on a fielder's choice, stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch to set up the big play.
Perregaux stepped up to the plate, connecting with the ball as she sent it to short with Piessens taking off and crossing the plate for the game-winning run.
Despite several chances for both squads, it was the pitching that stole the show through 12 innings as Shirshac went 12.0 innings, allowing no runs on seven hits with seven k's and just three walks. On the opposite side, Warriors hurler Alyssa Vilchez was also fantastic, going 11.1 innings with one run allowed on six hits. She had three strikeouts and walked just one batter.
