WORCESTER, Mass. – It was another historic moment for the UMass Dartmouth softball team as they posted a 6-2 victory over #10 Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in the winner's bracket final to advance to Sunday's Regional Championship at 11am.
The Corsairs – who move to 32-11 overall – will now make their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament Regional Championship for the right to go to the Super Regionals. UMass Dartmouth will face the winner of the 4pm game on Saturday which will feature WPI and the winner of the 1:30pm game between Stockton and Albertus Magnus.
Much like Friday's opening game, the Corsairs got things going in the bottom of the first as junior designated player
Olivia Silva singled to center field, bringing home senior third baseman
RaeLynn Perregaux for the 1-0 lead.
The Engineers countered in the top of the second, getting the equalizer as Meg Sherwood came home on a muffed throw by the first baseman. In the second, the Corsairs made it a 2-1 advantage as junior right fielder
Lily Routhier was caught stealing at second, but senior second baseman
Emma Talpey stole home to put the home team ahead.
WPI answered once again in the top of the third, but the Corsairs responded in the bottom of the frame as senior catcher
Lena Tsonis singled to shot with the bases loaded, driving in Perregaux from third. Senior center fielder
Sydney Menz then doubled down the left field line, sending two runs across to build up a 5-2 lead after three.
The Corsairs continued hold the line, utilizing dominant pitching from rookie
Brielle Kenney to keep the Engineers at bay. In the bottom of the sixth, Perregaux was intentionally walked with Menz on third. The senior rounded first and stole second as Menz came home for the sixth run of the game.
Kenney pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh to secure the win for the Corsairs and improve to 14-3 on the season. She pitched 5.0 innings of relief, allowing one run (unearned) on three hits with two strikeouts. Sophomore
Edy Crawford started the game, going 2.0 innings with one run allowed on one hit and two strikeouts.
At the plate, Menz was 1-for-1 with a run scored and two runs batted in. Perregaux was 1-for-2 with two runs scored, while Silva went 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.