CASTLETON, Vt. - Powered by an impressive 4-for-6 performance with three RBI's and four runs from junior right fielder
Kinu Takasugi in game two, the UMass Dartmouth softball team split their final conference doubleheader of the season against VTSU Castleton. The Corsairs fell 9-2 in the first game of the afternoon before taking an 11-9 victory in 11 innings in game two. UMass Dartmouth moves to 24-12 overall and 10-6 in the Little East, while the Spartans are now 16-16 overall and 5-9 in conference play.
After UMass Dartmouth went up 2-1 through the first two innings of game one, VTSU Castleton responded with three runs in the third and another two in the fifth to go up 6-2 through the first four innings. The Spartans continued to add onto their lead with another pair of runs in the fifth inning to put UMD at an 8-2 deficit.
As a team, the Corsairs recorded eight game one hits, but were unable to translate those hits into any runs in the later innings. VTSU Castleton added one more run in the seventh inning to take the first game, 9-2.
Game two saw the UMass Dartmouth flip the script from game one, as it was the Corsairs who jumped out to a 5-0 lead through the first two innings. UMassD's bats stayed hot, as the Corsairs went up 9-2 going into the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Spartans responded in a big way, rallying for seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game up at 9-9. UMD senior hurler
Kaitlyn Shirshac was fantastic the rest of the way, halting any more runs for VTSU Castleton as the game went into extra innings. In her final 5.0 innings of work, Shirshac allowed no runs on four hits to pick up her 15
th win of the season.
After a scoreless four innings, the Corsairs came up to bat in the top of the 11
th inning with the score still tied at 9-9. Junior shortstop
Larissa Piessens led off the inning by bunting the runner over to third base. She was followed by junior right fielder
Kinu Takasugi, who notched an RBI base hit to give UMD a late lead. The Corsairs were not finished yet, as Takasugi stole second and was advanced to third base on another sac bunt from freshman outfielder
Olivia Ali. Takasugi capitalized on a wild pitch, scoring to put UMass Dartmouth up 11-9. The defense held in the bottom of the 11
th as the Corsairs took the 11-9 game two victory.
Shirshac picked up the win, going 10.0 innings in the circle while allowing five runs (three earned) on 15 hits with six strikeouts. From the plate, UMass Dartmouth was led by Takasugi, who went 4-for-6 with three RBI's and four runs, accounting for seven of the team's 11 runs. Sophomore outfielder
Sydney Menz went a perfect 2-for-2 with three RBI's, while senior third baseman
RaeLynn Perregaux went 1-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
VTSU Castleton saw first year utility Abby Hacker go 4-for-6 with an RBI and a run. Sophomore catcher Samera Rideout went 4-for-5 with an RBI and a run, while first year pitcher Madison Gould was 3-for-6 and scored two runs. From the circle, Glould shouldered the loss, allowing two runs (one earned) on one hit with six strikeouts.
The Corsairs prepare for their final games of the 2024 regular season, hosting a doubleheader against Salve Regina on Sunday, May 5. Game one's first pitch is scheduled for 12:00PM in Dartmouth.
