NORTON, Mass. – Powered by a combined shutout in game two, the UMass Dartmouth softball team completed the sweep over Wheaton in doubleheader action on Friday. The 4-2 win in game one followed by a 5-0 victory in game two moved the Corsairs to 8-6 overall, while the Lyons slide to 4-8 overall.
UMass Dartmouth opened up the scoring in game one after senior catcher
Dyonna Rodas and sophomore second baseman
Emma Talpey got on base on a pair of walks. Sophomore third baseman
RaeLynn Perregaux brought in the game's first run with a double down the left field line. Wheaton scored a run in the bottom of the first and another in the bottom of the second, giving the Lyons a 2-1 advantage.
The Corsairs trailed 2-1 in the top of the sixth with one out when Talpey reached on an error to get things going. Perregaux struck again with a single through the right side that advanced Talpey to third base. Talpey was able to tag up and score on a long fly ball to center from senior first baseman
Hailey Lyons. With two outs and a runner on first, sophomore outfielder
Sydney Menz crushed an RBI double to right center to bring in Talpey, giving UMD a 3-2 lead through six innings.
The Corsairs added to their lead in the top of the seventh, starting with a pinch hit leadoff single from freshman
Olivia Silva. Freshman
Olivia Ali came in to pinch run, advancing to third base on consecutive sacrifice bunts. It was Rodas who brought in the runner on a double to center field, giving the Corsairs a 4-2 advantage.
Senior hurler
Kaitlyn Shirshac retired the Lyons in 1-2-3 fashion to end the game. Shirshac pitched the complete game, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits with four strikeouts.
Game two saw UMass Dartmouth jump out to a 3-0 lead, thanks to a three-run second inning. Junior outfielder
Jill Walsh got things going with a one-out single, advancing all the way to third on a fielding error. With two outs, back-to-back singles from junior shortstop
Larissa Piessens and junior outfielder
Kinu Takasugi brought in a run and kept the Corsairs threatening. Rodas cleared the bases when another Lyons fielding error helped bring in both runners, as UMass Dartmouth took a 3-0 lead.
Junior pitcher
Rahne Turley had a great outing, going five innings while allowing no runs on five hits. Turley kept Wheaton scoreless before being relieved by Shirshac. Shirshac picked up right where Turley left off, as she allowed just one hit in two innings of work and kept the Lyons scoreless. The Corsairs added two more runs in the top of the seventh, taking a 5-0 victory and completing the doubleheader sweep.
UMass Dartmouth softball is back at it on Wednesday, hosting Brandeis in more doubleheader action. Game one is scheduled for a 3:00pm first pitch.
