SALISBURY, Md. – The UMass Dartmouth softball team saw its outstanding season come to an end on Friday afternoon, falling to Framingham State University in action at the 2023 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament. The Rams improve to 33-12 overall with the 4-0 win, advancing to the final game of the day to face Williams College in an elimination contest at 4:30pm.
The Corsairs conclude their incredible 2023 campaign with a 30-14 overall record. UMassD finished with the second-most wins in a season – just three shy of equaling last year's total – while capturing their first Little East Conference Tournament Championship after defeating Eastern Connecticut State with two straight wins for the conference crown.
UMD was anchored all season by strong leadership, including graduate students
Leah Major (shortstop),
Jill Richards (pitcher/utility) and
Lindsay Chubbuck (catcher/designated player), along with senior
Victoria Rossetti (outfielder).
In Friday's game against the Rams, FSU jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first, loading the bases on singles from Brooke Grassia and Camille Desrochers, as well as a walk to Makayla Rooney. The Corsairs secured the first out, but Talia Duca quickly followed with an RBI single to center.
The Rams saw Kelsey McGuill drive in a pair of runs with a double to right field as Zoe Smyth stepped up and singled to make it bases loaded once again. With two outs on the board, Angelina Lynch was walked to force in another Framingham State run.
UMass Dartmouth had several solid chances, including a lead-off double by Richards in the top of the second and a third inning single by Rossetti, but the Corsairs could not solve Rams hurler Ally Moran, who capped the shutout with two strikeouts, one walk and just five hits allowed over 7.0 innings pitched.
The Corsairs saw junior
Kaitlyn Shirshac shoulder the loss, allowing four runs on five hits with a strikeout and two walks. Richards came on for the final 5.1 innings, striking out four batters with two walks and just two hits allowed during that time.
