DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Four Corsairs of the UMass Dartmouth softball team earned 2024-25 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team honors for their efforts on the field and in the classroom. Seniors
Kinu Takasugi and
Larissa Piessens as well as junior
Sydney Menz and sophomore
Olivia Silva were each named on the CSC Academic All-District Softball Team.
A two-time All-LEC First Team selection, Takasugi capped off an impressive senior season with the Corsairs in 2025. In 34 games played including 33 starts, Takasugi finished the 2025 campaign with 38 total hits, 24 runs scored, and eight runs batted in. The veteran outfielder concluded the season with a .330 batting average, good for second best on the squad, after 115 total at-bats to go along with a .389 on-base percentage and a .365 slugging percentage. Takasugi led the team for the second straight year in stolen bases with 20 on the season, tied for fifth overall in the Little East. The right fielder recorded 49 total putouts featuring one assist for a .962 fielding percentage in 2025.
The South Pasadena native posted nine games this season with two or more hits featuring season-high three hits on Apr. 4 against VTSU Castleton and Apr. 14 at Plymouth State University. Takasugi also saw a season long 11 game hit-streak starting on Apr. 14 and ending on May 1 at the University of Southern Maine. She tallied two runs batted in on Mar. 10 against North Central College during THE Spring Games tournament. She also recorded five games with two stolen bases in 2025 including back-to-back games on Mar. 12 versus Fontbonne University and Ursinus College.
Piessens also wrapped up an incredible career at UMass Dartmouth after starting in 37 games this season. The senior short stop owned a career-best .318 batting average, good for third best on the team, with 34 total hits on 107 at-bats in 2025. Piessens tallied a career-high 10 doubles, a pair of home runs, and her first career triple during her senior campaign. She also batted in a career-high 28 runs ranking second on the team and tied for seventh overall in the Little East. The veteran infielder posted a career-high .486 slugging percentage while also owning a .387 on-base percentage. Piessens also recorded the second most stolen bases for the Corsairs with nine on the season. On the field, Piessens recorded 44 total putouts along with a career-high 89 total assists to own a .917 fielding percentage. She was also involved in six double plays this year which tied for third on the squad.
The Windham native produced two hits in 13 games this season while also recording eight contests with two or more runs batted in. On Mar. 25 at Brandeis, Piessens notched her first home run of the season before smashing her second of the year on May 7 versus Plymouth State. Midway through the season, the senior short stop tallied her first career triple on Apr. 14 at Plymouth State to edge the Panthers 9-3. Piessens also posted two games with a season-high three runs batted in on Apr. 2 at Salve Regina and on Apr. 14 at Plymouth State.
Menz collected her first career CSC Academic All-District Team award after an impressive junior season. In 37 games started in 2025, Menz posted 21 total hits on 87 at-bats for a .241 batting average. She matched her career-high four doubles to go along with one triple as well as 11 runs batted in and 15 runs scored. The junior outfielder owned a .313 on-base percentage and a .310 slugging percentage this season. On the defensive side, Menz registered 52 total putouts and four total assists for a career-best .949 fielding percentage.
In her season debut, the Stoughton native tallied her lone triple of the season after a 2-for-3 performance at the plate against New England College on Mar. 8. She recorded her first double of the year on Mar. 12 versus Fontbonne in a 4-3 victory. In the regular season series finale at Southern Maine, Menz notched back-to-back doubles against the Huskies.
Silva also earned her first CSC Academic All-District honors following a strong sophomore season. In 34 games played featuring 31 starts, Silva posted 24 total hits on 91 at-bats for a career-best .268 batting average. She also recorded 14 runs batted in and six total doubles this season, both marking career-highs. The sophomore catcher owned a .352 on-base percentage as well as a .330 slugging percentage on the year. Behind the plate, Silva produced 68 putouts and 16 assists to own a .966 fielding percentage. Additionally, Silva led the Corsairs after catching a total of five players stealing this season.
Silva opened the season by tallying back-to-back games with two runs batted in on Mar. 8 against New England College and North Central. Additionally, Silva recorded a season-high eight putouts versus North Central. She later recorded an RBI double at Eastern Connecticut State on Apr. 19 to lift the Corsairs over the Warriors by a final score of 6-5. On May 7 during the opening day of the LEC Tournament, Silva registered her fourth game of the season with two runs batted in against Plymouth State.
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