BOSTON, Mass. – Powered by a two-hit shutout from the circle for Rhode Island College junior hurler Abby Kidd, RIC took down the UMass Dartmouth softball team, 5-0 on Friday, exiting the Corsairs from the Little East Conference Tournament. The Anchorwomen move on to face top-seeded UMass Boston this afternoon.
All of the damage was done in the second inning by RIC, as they brought in five runs to jump out to the early 5-0 lead. With two outs in the inning and the bases loaded, RIC freshman DP Melanie Earley cleared the bases with a triple to center field. Earley then scored on an RBI single from sophomore second baseman Noelle Simmons. UMD senior hurler
Kaitlyn Shirshac then walked three straight to bring in another run, before senior pitcher
Rahne Turley took over and escaped the inning.
Turley was fantastic in relief for the Corsairs. After taking over with two outs in the second inning, she went the rest of the game, allowing no runs on just four hits. UMassD was unable to capitalize on Turley's performance as Kidd was outstanding for the Anchorwomen to hold off the Corsairs' batters. Kidd pitched the full 7.0 inning, throwing a two-hit shutout with 15 strikeouts and just one walk.
From the plate, Rhode Island College was led by senior center fielder Avery Katz who went a near-perfect 4-for-5. Earley went 1-for-3 with three RBIs and a run, while Simmons was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run.
UMass Dartmouth's two hits from the plate came from junior shortstop
Larissa Piessens and senior first baseman
Hailey Lyons. Shirshac shouldered the loss on the mound. She allowed five runs on six hits with three strikeouts in 1.2 innings of work.
The UMass Dartmouth Softball team's 2024 season has come to a close. The Corsairs finish the season with an overall record of 24-14 and finished 10-6 in the Little East.
