DANBURY, Conn. – Powered by a strong offensive effort and solid pitching in the circle, the UMass Dartmouth softball team defeated Western Connecticut State in Little East doubleheader action on Friday. The Corsairs posted wins of 17-4 (6 inn.) and 8-5 to move to 22-8 overall and 9-3 in conference play.
Game one turned into a slugfest for the Corsairs, who pushed five runs across in the top of the second. Senior second baseman
Emma Talpey got the first run in, singling with bases loaded to drive in rookie first baseman
Bre Fontes.
Senior centerfielder
Sydney Menz was then hit by pitch to bring in another run, followed by a single from senior third baseman
RaeLynn Perregaux that saw two more runs come across. A single by junior left fielder
Olivia Ali brought in the final run of the frame for a 5-0 advantage.
In the top of the fourth, rookie shortstop
Chloe Edwards drove in a run on a triple and Perregaux added another RBI with a single to make it a 7-0 lead. The Wolves posted two runs in the bottom of the frame on a double by Lorelei Stancavage, but the Corsairs struck again in the fifth.
Following a sacrifice fly by junior right fielder
Lily Routhier, Talpey singled to bring in a run, followed by an RBI double from Menz for a 10-2 advantage. WestConn answered once again in the bottom of the inning, scoring off an error.
UMass Dartmouth broke the game wide open in the sixth as a three-run homer to left by junior catcher
Olivia Silva moved the score to 13-3. Menz followed with an RBI single, while Edwards blasted her first collegiate home run – a three-run shot – to left for a 17-3 score.
The Wolves added a run in the bottom of the sixth, but the Corsairs were able to get the final outs to conclude the game via the 8-run mercy rule.
Perregaux went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and three runs batted in, while Silva was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI. Talpey was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two runs batted in, while Edwards was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI. In the circle, rookie
Brielle Kenney allowed four runs (3 earned) on eight hits with just one walk and seven strikeouts over 6.0 innings pitched for her eighth win of the season.
Game two saw UMass Dartmouth open another early lead as a triple by Perregaux led to a sacrifice fly by Ali for the 1-0 advantage. The Corsairs made it a 2-0 lead in the second as Routhier doubled with Menz laying down a double to bring in the run.
In the top of the fourth, a bunt single from Talpey drove in senior catcher
Lena Tsonis from third, while Menz followed with a sacrifice to bring in Routhier. Edwards laid down a bunt single to bring Talpey home and give the Corsairs a 5-0 advantage. A single from Ali with two outs on the board brought Edwards home, moving the score to 6-0.
WestConn countered in the bottom of the frame as a single by Julia Valukis brought in a run. Heading into the fifth, Routhier blasted a triple that drove in two runs to push the margin to 8-1.
The Wolves added four runs in the bottom of the seventh, but the Corsairs held on to secure the win and the doubleheader sweep.
Routhier was 4-for-4 with two runs scored and two runs batted in, while Tsonis was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Menz had a hit and two RBI, while Ali also had a hit with two runs batted in. In the circle, sophomore
Edy Crawford went the distance, allowing five runs (1 earned) on six hits with two strikeouts.
UMass Dartmouth returns to action on Tuesday when it hosts Eastern Connecticut State in Little East action. First pitch at home is set for 2:30pm.
