CLERMONT, Fla. – The UMass Dartmouth softball team shouldered a tough 7-6 loss at the hands of Kean University on Wednesday afternoon at THE Spring Games at Hancock Park. The Cougars move to 8-2 on the season, while the Corsairs slip to 3-5 overall.
Trailing by a 4-2 margin after the opening two innings, the Corsairs got back to work in the bottom of the third as junior second baseman
Emma Talpey opened with a walk. Sophomore third baseman
RaeLynn Perregaux followed with a single through the left side, both runners stealing third and second, respectively on the next play.
That move set up a sacrifice bunt by senior first baseman
Hailey Lyons as Talpey scored to make it a 4-3 game, followed by a single to center from rookie catcher
Olivia Silva to tie things up at 4-all with just one out on the board. Following a single to left from sophomore outfielder
Sydney Menz, Kean changed up pitchers and the Corsairs took advantage once more with junior left fielder
Jill Walsh walking to load the bases.
Despite the momentum, the Cougars picked off Silva at third to end the inning and send it to the fourth all tied up. In the top of the inning, Kean rallied, bringing a run in as a single from sophomore outfielder Brianna Sciulli singled to left, eventually stealing second base as a single to right from junior second baseman Eliza Filus – who opened the game with a two-run homer – made it a 5-4 contest as Sciulli beat the tag at home.
The Corsairs saw a great individual effort from junior
Kinu Takasugi in the bottom of the frame as the right fielder walked, then stole second before advancing to third on a passed ball. Senior catcher
Dyonna Rodas was next up, walking and later stealing second and with one out on the board, Perregaux grounded to second, scoring Takasugi to make it a 5-5 game.
Kean answered once again in their half of the fifth as a triple to right from junior first baseman Maya Thompson set up a sacrifice fly to bring her across for a 6-5 lead. Once again, the Corsairs responded in the bottom of the frame as Menz was hit by a pitch, stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch. Following a walk to Walsh, junior shortstop
Larissa Piessens reached first on an error that allowed Menz to score for the 6-6 margin.
Heading into the top of the seventh, the Cougars saw Filus single to right, stealing second on the next play. Messina reached first on an error, which allowed Filus to bring the seventh run across for Kean and the 7-6 lead.
The Corsairs saw Walsh hit by a pitch in their half of the inning, but shouldered the loss as she was caught stealing second to end the inning.
Filus paced the effort for the Cougars, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI in the contest. Thompson was 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Messina also had two RBI in the game. In the circle, rookie Anabelle Farinha earned the victory, pitching 2.0 innings with just one hit surrendered and a strikeout. Rookie Samantha Raymond pitched 2.2 innings with two runs (1 earned) with four walks and two K's, while starter Olivia Quercia went 2.1 innings with four runs (all earned) on six hits with two walks.
For the Corsairs, Perregaux was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, while Takasugi went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Lyons was 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI, while in the circle, senior
Kaitlyn Shirshac suffered the loss, allowing seven runs (4 earned) on six hits with three strikeouts and just one walk.
UMass Dartmouth returns to action on Thursday, taking on Edgewood College (9:15am) and Farmingdale State (11:30am) in their final games in Florida.
