KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Another high powered offensive effort and outstanding pitching paced the UMass Dartmouth softball team to a pair of wins on Sunday as they continued action at The Spring Games. The Corsairs defeated Keuka College, 9-1 in five innings, before besting Bates College, 5-0 to conclude the day.
UMass Dartmouth improves to 4-0 on the young season with the victories.
Keuka got on the board in the top of the first, but the Corsairs stormed back with five unanswered in the latter half of the frame. With one out on the board, rookie shortstop
Chloe Edwards laid down a bunt single, which was followed by a walk to junior catcher
Olivia Silva.
Sophomore left fielder
Lily Routhier reached on a fielder's choice that saw the runner cut down advancing to third, but a double to left center by rookie first baseman
Bre Fontes tied the game, 1-1. Senior center fielder
Sydney Menz reached on a throwing error to first, allowing another run to cross.
With bases loaded, sophomore designated player
Nina O'Neil doubled down the left field line, clearing the bases to push the UMass Dartmouth lead to 5-1 after the first inning of play. The Corsairs added another run in the sixth inning as a single to left from Routhier scored senior third baseman
RaeLynn Perregaux from second for a 6-1 advantage.
In the third inning, UMass Dartmouth widened their margin once more with junior
Olivia Ali doubling to left with two outs on the board. Perregaux was up next, singling to short and advancing to second on the throw as Ali came across to score. Edwards followed with a single up the middle, bringing home Perregaux for an 8-1 advantage.
The offensive effort continued into the fourth inning with the Corsairs opening up a 9-1 lead as Menz reached on a fielder's choice, later stealing second and third as Talpey reached on a throwing error to score Menz and open the eight-run margin.
In the top of the fifth, rookie
Aubry Mabrouk came on in relief of sophomore starter
Edy Crawford. With one out on the board, Keuka got a single to center by Alexis Kopetchny, but a fly out by Lena Ramos turned into a double play as the Corsairs secured the win in five innings with the mercy rule.
At the plate, Fontes went 2-for-2 with a runs scored and an RBI, while O'Neil had a hit with three RBI. Edwards went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Perregaux was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI.
In the circle, Crawford went 4.0 innings, allowing just one run on two hits. She struck out two batters and walked just one. Mabrouk pitched the final 1.0 innings, allowing just one hit with a strikeout.
Game two action saw the Corsairs continue their momentum as a single to center by Silva brought home Perregaux for the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Into the second inning, Talpey singled to left and Perregaux doubled to left center to put runners on second and third.
Edwards then reached on a fielder's choice to the pitcher, advancing to second as both runners scored to open up a 3-0 advantage. In the top of the fifth, senior catcher
Lena Tsonis capitalized with a two-run double, bringing in Silva and Fontes for a 5-0 lead.
Corsairs' rookie hurler
Brielle Kenney went on to shutdown the Bobcats over the final two innings – allowing just one hit over that time – securing the victory and give UMD its fourth straight win.
Talpey went 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Tsonis was 1-for-3 with two runs batted in. Silva was 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI, while Perregaux was 1-for-4 with two runs scored. In the circle, Kenney went the distance, allowing no runs on just four hits over 7.0 innings. She allowed no walks and struck out four batters.
UMass Dartmouth returns to action on Monday when it faces University of Wisconsin-Platteville (10am) and Alverno College (12:30pm) at the Fortune Road Athletic Complex.
