KEENE, N.H. – Powered by a perfect 2-for-2 from the plate with two RBI's from junior shortstop
Larissa Piessens in game two, the UMass Dartmouth softball team split their conference doubleheader with Keene State. The Corsairs fell 1-0 in the first game of the afternoon before taking a 4-3 victory in the nightcap. UMass Dartmouth moves to 23-11 overall and 9-5 in the Little East, while the Owls are now 6-30 overall and 2-12 in conference play.
In a low-scoring game one where both team's starting pitchers shined, Keene State scored the lone run of the game in the fourth inning. The Owls' run came thanks to a leadoff triple from freshman shortstop Elyse Picard, who scored on a sac fly from junior center fielder Liv Whittier. The run served as the eventual game-winner in a 1-0 win for Keene State.
Despite shouldering the loss, senior hurler
Kaitlyn Shirshac (14-8) was outstanding. In 6.0 innings of work, Shirshac allowed one run on just two hits with nine strikeouts. However, she was one-upped by KSC's junior pitcher Carissa Miller (2-4), who threw a one-hitter in a shutout in a complete 7.0 innings from the circle.
Game two saw the Corsairs jump out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Keene State responded with two of their own in the fourth to even the score up. While tied 2-2, UMass Dartmouth drove in a pair of runs in the fifth to re-take the lead, starting with a Piessens leadoff walk and a fielding error on a bunt from junior right fielder
Kinu Takasugi. With runners on second and third, a wild pitch caused Piessens to score and advanced Takasugi to third. She was brought in on a sac fly off the bat of freshman second baseman
Hailey Soares, putting the Corsairs back on top by a 4-2 margin.
The Owls were threatening, scoring a run in the sixth inning to narrow their deficit to just one. Shirshac, who came in as a reliever for the final three innings, put away Keene State in 1-2-3 fashion in the bottom of the seventh to secure the 4-3 victory for the Corsairs.
Senior hurler
Rahne Turley (9-3) secured her ninth win of the season, allowing just two runs (none earned) on four hits with two strikeouts in 4.0 innings of work. Junior pitcher Lilah Demmy (2-14) shouldered the loss for the Owls. She allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits with five strikeouts in a complete game's work.
UMass Dartmouth were led from the plate by Piessens's 2-for-2 game with two RBI's and a run scored. Sophomore third baseman
RaeLynn Perregaux was 2-for-4, while senior first baseman
Hailey Lyons went 1-for-3 and scored a run.
The Corsairs prepare for their final conference matchup of the season, traveling to VTSU Castleton for a Little East Conference twin bill. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00PM in Castleton, Vermont.
