MANSFIELD, Conn. – Behind a number of outstanding hits and yet another outstanding effort in the circle from grad student
Jill Richards, the UMass Dartmouth softball team held off Eastern Connecticut State University for a 4-3 win in the championship game of the Little East Conference Tournament.
With the victory, the second-seeded Corsairs improve to 29-12 on the season and will face the top-seeded Warriors at 2:50pm today in a winner-take-all final for the Little East Conference Crown and the right to go to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
UMass Dartmouth held a 4-1 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh as Eastern Connecticut State made a huge comeback. Sophomore Alexa Boone got things going with a single to right field. Classmate Maddi Sauve stepped up to the plate next, tripling to center as a run scored to cut the deficit to two (4-2). With one out on the board, senior Alyssa Vilchez singled to center, bringing home another run for the 4-3 margin.
After a single to center from grad student Julia SanGiovanni, the Corsairs were able to retire the side with a foul out and fly out call to secure the victory.
The Warriors opened the game's scoring, but the Corsairs responded in the top of the third as left fielder Victoria Rosetti was hit by a pitch. Shortstop
Leah Major grounded out but advanced the runner, setting up designated player
Dyonna Rodas, who reached on a throwing error as the run scored to tie it.
In the top of the fifth, UMD answered once again, taking the lead as with a runner on, Rodas doubled to right center to bring a run across. Third baseman
RaeLynn Perregaux singled to right, bringing home Rodas for the 3-1 lead.
The Corsairs added another run in the top of the seventh as second baseman
Larissa Piessens singled through the left side to bring home Rosetti.
Perregaux went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Piessens was 2-for-3 with an RBI. In the circle, Richards was once again phenomenal, allowing three runs on seven hits over 7.0 innings. She struck out seven and walked just three.
For the Warriors, sophomore Victoria Heaphy had a hit and an RBI, while Sauve added a run scored and an RBI. In the circle, senior Carley Stocker, who came on in relief, shouldered the loss with three runs allowed on three hits. She struck out five and walked two over 4.0 innings. Vilchez started the game, going 3.0 innings with one run allowed on three hits with a strikeout.
