MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Behind a six-run effort in the top of the seventh innings, the UMass Dartmouth softball team claimed a 6-0 victory over Vermont State University Castleton on Saturday afternoon at the Middlebury College Baseball & Softball Complex. The second-seeded Corsairs move to 27-11 and will now face sixth-seeded UMass Boston in the final elimination game of the day around 4:15pm. The top-seeded Spartans conclude their season with a 21-14 overall mark.
 
It was another battle of solid pitching on Saturday as the Corsairs and the Spartans remained scoreless into the top of the seventh inning when UMass Dartmouth broke open the game.
 
It was a stand up double by senior designated player Lena Tsonis to lead off the top of the seventh for the Corsairs. Senior second baseman Emma Talpey followed with the bunt to move the runner, but the senior reached to put runners on the corners with no outs. Senior center fielder Sydney Menz reached and advanced to second on the fielder's choice as the Spartans got Tsonis out at the plate. Junior right fielder Lily Routhier played the hero, belting a triple into right center to bring in both runners.
 
Routhier then came home on a wild pitch that went to the backstop, allowing the outfielder to come in for the 3-0 advantage. A walk to rookie shortstop Chloe Edwards followed, bringing Perregaux to the plate with just one out on the board as she singled through the right side. Junior left fielder Olivia Ali then doubled to center, bringing in Edwards for the fourth run of the frame (4-0).
 
Following a pitching change by the Spartans, the Corsairs continued to add on with a double to left center from junior catcher Olivia Silva bringing in two more runs for a 6-0 advantage. Rookie first baseman Bre Fontes followed, sending a shot off the pitcher's glove and through the middle to put runners on the corner.
 
With two outs on the board, Spartans pitcher Madison Gould finally ended the frame, getting Talpey to strikeout looking to end the frame and send it into the bottom of the seventh.
 
The Spartans worked to get onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning, aided by a lead off single through the left side by Alexis Rogers. VTSU's Abby Hacker reached on a fielder's choice, but cut down the runner to second for the first out of the frame. A chopped ball in front of the plate by Jordan Hill saw Silva make the second out with a throw down to Fontes and the Corsairs sealed the win as sophomore pitcher Edy Crawford got Maddy Dudley to ground out to end the game.
 
At the plate, Perregaux was 3-for-4 on the day with a run scored, while Silva went 2-for-3 with two runs batted in. Routhier had the big triple that brought in two runs – adding a run scored, while Ali had a hit, a run scored and an RBI.
 
In the circle, rookie starter Brielle Kenney and Crawford combined for the shutout as Kenney went 4.0 innings with just two hits allowed and three strikeouts. Crawford - who earned the victory - pitched the final 3.0 innings, surrendering three hits with a strikeout.