PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Powered by another strong outing from senior hurler
Kaitlyn Shirshac in a 4-3 win in game one, and a base-clearing double from junior left fielder
Jill Walsh to go ahead in a 7-6 win in the nightcap, the UMass Dartmouth softball team took the series sweep over the Little East Conference leader coming in Rhode Island College. The Corsairs have won 10 of their last 12 to improve to 20-8 overall and take control of the top spot in the LEC standings with an 8-2 conference record and tiebreakers over RIC and UMass Boston (8-4). The Anchorwomen slide to 25-5 overall and boast an 8-4 record against conference opponents.
Game one saw a scoreless four innings to start the game. Shirshac (13-6) picked up her 13
th win of the season, allowing three runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts. Starting in the circle for RIC was junior hurler Abby Kidd (14-1), who shouldered her very first loss of her outstanding season. She allowed four runs on 11 hits with 13 strikeouts.
The Corsairs got on the board first in the fifth inning, starting with a one-out single from freshman DP
Olivia Silva. Freshman infielder
Ally Dantas pinch ran for her, and she was able to advance to third on a bunt single from junior shortstop
Larissa Piessens. Then with two outs, senior catcher
Dyonna Rodas blasted a double to left field to bring in two runs.
UMassD added another pair of runs to their lead in the top of the sixth, beginning with a leadoff single from senior first baseman
Hailey Lyons. Sophomore third baseman
RaeLynn Perregaux followed her up with a base hit of her own. Freshman pinch runner
Olivia Ali and Perregaux each advanced on a wild pitch, setting up sophomore center fielder
Sydney Menz's base hit to bring in a run. The Corsairs brought in one more run in the inning, when freshman left fielder
Liv Matos's single drove in Perregaux to put UMass Dartmouth up 4-0.
Rhode Island College began to threaten in the bottom of the sixth. With two runners in scoring position, senior third baseman Victoria Young crushed a base-clearing triple to right center field. Shirshac was able to strikeout one and force a fly out to get out of the inning with the runner stranded on third.
UMass Dartmouth led 4-2 in the bottom of the seventh when RIC applied the pressure right away with a leadoff double from sophomore second baseman Nicole Simmons. A base hit and a walk set the bases loaded with no outs. After the first out came in a sac-fly to right field with runners tagging from second and third, Shirshac clutched up by striking out one and then doing it herself on a groundball back to her to end the game with a 4-3 win.
The Corsairs saw Rodas post a great game from the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBI's, including two doubles. Perregaux notched two hits and scored a run, while Menz and Matos each had RBI singles. Rhode Island College was led by Simmons, who went 3-for-3 and scored a run.
Game two saw a tied game at 1-1 through the first two innings. In the top of the third, the Corsairs exploded for four runs after loading the bases up with one out for Walsh, who roped a double that drove in three base runners following a throwing error from the outfield. Walsh, who reached third on said throwing error, scored on a wild pitch for the fourth run of the inning and to give UMD a 5-2 lead through three innings.
The Corsairs led 5-3 entering the seventh inning, when they added two more runs to their advantage. With two outs and runners on first and second, Rodas hit her third double of the day to drive in a run. Freshman infielder
Hailey Soares then contributed a pinch-hit single to bring in another and give UMass Dartmouth a 7-3 lead going into the bottom of the seventh.
Despite the lead, Rhode Island College gave more than a scare in their final opportunity in the bottom of the seventh. A two out, RBI-double from freshman first baseman Reilly Austin cut the deficit to three runs. Then with two runners on, sophomore right fielder Sophia Crudale crushed a double off the left field fence to bring in two runs and bring the score to 7-6. Shirshac entered the game to get the final out, and did just that by striking out her first batter in just three pitches for her second save of the season, as the Corsairs completed the sweep with the 7-6 victory.
Senior hurler
Rahne Turley (7-3) did a phenomenal job limiting the bats of RIC. In 6.2 innings work, she allowed six runs on 11 hits with three strikeouts in route to her seventh win of the season. RIC junior pitcher Taylor Babcock shouldered her fourth loss of the season, allowing five runs on six hits in 2.1 innings of work.
The Corsairs were led from the plate in game two by Walsh, who was 2-for-4 with three RBI's and a run scored, and Rodas, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI's. Junior right fielder
Kinu Takasugi went 2-for-4 as well and scored two runs.
UMass Dartmouth softball has a quick turnaround for a doubleheader at United States Coast Guard Academy Wednesday. Game one is set to start at 3:00pm in New London, Connecticut.
