NORTON, Mass. – Behind a six-run effort in the top of the sixth, the UMass Dartmouth softball team broke a late tie to earn a 14-7 victory at Wheaton College in non-conference action on Wednesday. The Corsairs move to 24-9 on the season with the win.
It was a close battle throughout the opening five innings with the two teams locked in a 5-5 tie until the top of the sixth, when the visiting Corsairs broke open the game for a x-x advantage. A walk to junior left fielder
Olivia Ali got things going as she stole second, leading to a double to right center off the bat of junior catcher/third baseman
Olivia Silva for the 6-5 lead.
A two-run single from senior designated player/catcher
Lena Tsonis widened the gap to 8-5 and an RBI single to right from senior center fielder
Sydney Menz made it a 9-5 margin.
Rookie shortstop
Chloe Edwards followed with a single to center, while a ground out by sophomore
Nina O'Neil advanced the runners as Menz scored and Edwards went to second to make it an 11-5 game.
Into the seventh innings, the Corsairs bats stayed alive, getting a bases loaded opportunity with one out on the board. Senior second baseman
Emma Talpey took advantage, singling through the left side to bring home rookie first baseman
Bre Fontes for the 12-5 advantage. A single to right off Edwards' bat brought home two more runs, pushing the margin to 14-5 heading into the bottom of the frame.
The homestanding Lyons worked to battle back in the seventh and Mady Bryan – who came on to pinch hit – delivered with a two-run homer over the left field wall to close the gap to 14-7. It was as close as Wheaton would get with rookies
Brielle Kenney and
Aubry Mabrouk – who came on in relief a couple batters after the runs – shutting down the inning for the Corsairs victory.
Talpey went 3-for-4 on the day with a run scored and two runs batted in. Edwards was also 3-for-4 with three RBI, while Silva was 4-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Tsonis was 2-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBI, while junior right fielder
Lily Routhier went 1-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI.
Kenney improved to 10-1 on the season, going 6.1 innings with seven runs (5 earned) allowed on eight hits. She struck out six batters. Mabrouk pitched 0.2 innings, allowing just a walk in her appearance.
The Corsairs return to action on Saturday, traveling to Vermont State University Castleton for a critical Little East doubleheader. The games – which will mark the final games of the regular season – are likely to decide the number one and two seeds for the upcoming Little East Tournament next week. UMD is currently second in conference play with a 10-4 mark, while the Spartans are a game ahead with an 11-3 record. First pitch for Saturday's game one is set for 12pm.
