DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Powered by solid pitching and an offensive explosion in game two, the UMass Dartmouth softball team captured a doubleheader sweep of Bridgewater State on Tuesday afternoon in their 2024 home opener. The Corsairs – who are now 6-6 on the season – won game one by a 3-1 margin, adding a 15-1 victory in 5 innings in game two. The Bears move to 7-6 overall.
Game one saw a near perfect outing for senior hurler
Kaitlyn Shirshac, who threw a complete game one-hitter to seal the 3-1 game one victory. Moving to 4-4 on the season, she allowed just one unearned run with no walks, striking out seven.
The Corsairs got on the board in game one in the bottom of the third inning as with runners on, sophomore centerfielder
Sydney Menz scored on a throwing error by the Bears catcher – who was attempting to throw out junior right fielder
Kinu Takasugi at second.
Sophomore second baseman
Emma Talpey brought the second run across for the Corsairs, singling to the pitcher as Takasugi came home on the throw to first. In the top of the fifth, Bears pitcher Olivia Hargreaves reached on a fielding error by first baseman
Hailey Lyons, which allowed the BSU runner on third to score.
UMass Dartmouth capitalized once again in the bottom of the fifth, sending their third run across as Menz once again scored on a throwing error by the Bears.
Bridgewater State saw Hargreaves allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits over 7.0 innings. She surrendered just one walk with three strikeouts in the game.
In game two, the Corsairs bats came alive, plating four runs in the first, five in the second and four more in the third inning. Bridgewater State opened the game's scoring in the top of the first as rookie shortstop Sydney Schaefer singled down the left field line to drive in a run for the 1-0 lead.
The Corsairs answered as a sacrifice fly from sophomore third baseman
RaeLynn Perregaux brought in Takasugi, followed by a double to center from rookie catcher
Olivia Silva which brought two more runs across. Menz singles up the middle to bring home Silva and make it a 4-1 advantage for the home team.
In the bottom of the second, senior designated player
Dyonna Rodas singled through the right side to bring a run in. She was followed by a double to left from Perregaux which saw two runs come across. A single up the middle by Lyons brought in Perregaux as Menz followed with a single to second to push the lead to 9-1 for the Corsairs.
In the bottom of the third, Lyons reached on a throwing error as Rodas advanced to third before scoring on the error. Menz reached on a dropped fly ball to bring in another run, while rookie left fielder
Liv Matos pinged an RBI single to center.
UMass Dartmouth added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, pushing the margin to 15-1 as rookie third baseman
Ally Dantas singled through the right side to bring home rookie right fielder
Amy Psota and junior shortstop
Larissa Piessens.
Perregaux went 1-for-2 at the plate with a runs scored and three RBI, while Menz was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Rodas was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored and an RBI. Menz also had a stolen base, along with Takasugi. In the circle, junior
Rahne Turley earned the win, moving to 2-2 on the season as she allowed one run on five hits over 5.0 innings pitched. She surrendered just one walk in the game.
For the Bears, sophomore Olyvia Mendonca shouldered the loss, allowing eight runs on seven hits over 1.1 innings pitched. She surrendered two walks in the outing as senior Tatiana Burcy came on in relief over the final 2.2 innings. Burcy allowed seven runs (4 earned) on seven hits with three walks.
UMass Dartmouth is scheduled to return to action on Saturday in a 12pm doubleheader at Wheaton College in Norton, Mass.
