CLERMONT, Fla. – In two tightly contested contests, including a two-run loss to top-ranked Trine University, the UMass Dartmouth softball team dropped their first two games at THE Spring Games in Clermont, Florida. After a close loss to Trine in the opening slot, the Corsairs fell 2-0 to Calvin University. The Corsairs begin their 2024 season 0-2 overall, while the Thunder improve to 11-1 and the Knights move to 8-1.
In the early game against the Thunder, senior
Kaitlyn Shirshac had a great performance from the thrower's circle, pitching the complete game while allowing just three runs to the defending National Champions. She struck out four and allowed seven hits from the 25 batters she faced.
UMass Dartmouth was trailing, 1-0 through three and a half innings, when senior catcher
Dyonna Rodas stepped to the plate. Rodas homered over the left field fence on the very first pitch of the at bat, evening the contest at 1-1 with no outs. Sophomores
RaeLynn Perregaux and
Sydney Menz each got on base, but Trine senior hurler Lauren Clausen was able to fight her way out of the inning.
The Thunder took back the lead in the top of the fifth. After a lead-off single by junior catcher Ainsley Phillips, she was able to advance to third base with a sacrifice bunt and a fielding error. Phillips was knocked home by senior Karly Trine, giving the Thunder a 2-1 lead.
The Corsairs were threatening in the bottom of the fifth, beginning with junior outfielder
Kinu Takasugi taking a walk with one out. Freshman
Hailey Soares made her collegiate debut with a pinch-hit single, advancing Takasugi to third as Soares took second base on the throw. With runners on second and third with one out, Trine brought in a reliever in sophomore Debbie Hill, who got out of the inning without allowing a run.
Trine scored one more run in the top of the sixth that would be the last run scored in the game, as top-ranked Trine defeated UMass Dartmouth, 3-1.
Game two saw another low-scoring contest, with junior pitcher
Rahne Turley in the circle for the Corsairs. Calvin struck in the third inning, when junior Sage Mougin got things going for the Knights with a one-out single up the middle. She was knocked home by a triple from sophomore Carly Dole. Dole scored on a sacrifice fly, taking a 2-0 lead before Turley got out of the inning with a strikeout.
Knights' sophomore thrower Emma Ludema had a phenomenal outing, allowing just two hits in seven innings of work. The Corsairs made in interesting in the top of the seventh, as senior first baseman
Hailey Lyons crushed a double to right-center field to lead off the inning. Ludema was able to work her way out of trouble however, closing out the game with a Corsair runner stranded on third.
In six innings of work, Turley faced 25 batters, allowing two runs on six hits with two strikeouts and one walk.
UMass Dartmouth is right back at it on Sunday with another back-to-back. The Corsairs will face Nichols College at 4pm, before taking on Arcadia University at 6:15pm.
