Softball Drops 7-4 Decision to UMass, Game Two Ends in 3-3 Tie

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University softball team hosted UMass Dartmouth in a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon at Alumni Park. The visiting Corsairs posted a 7-4 victory in the opener, while game two ended in a 3-3 tie due to darkness.

UMass improves to 10-2-1 on the season, while the host Bears fall to 6-5-1.

Game One

Game one was scoreless for the first five innings before the two teams erupted for 11 runs over the final two.

UMass pushed across four runs in the top of the sixth inning highlighted by a three-run homer off the bat of senior catcher Lindsay Chubbuck (Berkley, Mass).

Bridgewater State answered with three runs in the home half of the sixth as the Bears capitalized on a pair of Corsair errors. Graduate Catcher Madison Synan (Quincy, Mass.) and senior pitcher Kelley Reichert (Milford, Mass.) each connected for RBI singles in the frame.

The Corsairs tacked on three runs in top of the seventh to extend their lead to 7-3. Sophomore third baseman Dyonna Rodas (Warwick, R.I.) led off the inning with a double and later scored on senior shortstop Leah Major's (Fairhaven, Mass.) sacrifice fly. Senior pitcher Jill Richards (Kingston, Mass.) added an RBI single in the frame while the third run crossed the plate because of a BSU error.

An RBI single by senior right fielder Emma Healy (Plymouth, Mass.) in the bottom of the seventh cut the deficit to 7-4, but UMass turned a key double play to thwart any hopes of a BSU comeback.

Richards (5-1) picked up the complete game win for the Corsairs as she allowed four runs (one earned) on eight hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Richards also went 2-for-4 at the plate with a run and two RBI. Rodas tripled and doubled in three at bats and scored a run.

Reichert (3-2) went the distance in the circle for the Bears giving up seven runs (five earned) on seven hits with one walk and six strikeouts in the setback.

Senior shortstop Megan Sharon (East Longmeadow, Mass.) went 2-for-4 with a run scored to pace the Bears' eight hit attack.

The two teams combined for nine errors in the opener.

Game Two

The Bears rallied from a 3-1 deficit to post a 3-3 tie in the nightcap. Game two was stopped after the seventh inning due to darkness.

Sophomore pitcher Kaitlyn Shirshac (Enfield, Conn.) went all seven innings in the circle for the Corsairs. Shirshac allowed three runs (one earned) on seven hits with walk and six strikeouts.

Sophomore pitcher Madelyn Klingel (Windsor, Conn.) worked the first four innings for the Bears and gave up three runs (one earned) on five hits with a walk and a pair of strikeouts. Senior pitcher Laura Hatch (Middleboro, Mass.) came on in relief and tossed three scoreless innings. Hatch allowed just two hits, did not issue a walk and fanned one.

UMass pushed across a pair of unearned runs in the top of the first inning to jump out to a 2-0 lead. Chubbuck connected for an RBI single in the frame.

Bridgewater got on the board in the bottom of the third as sophomore left fielder Janet Jolly (Raynham, Mass.) reached on a bunt single, stole second and scored on freshman designated player Emily Marcotte's (North Dighton, Mass.) RBI single.

The Corsairs answered in the top of the fourth as senior third baseman Anna Kerwood (Florence, Mass.) raced home on the back end of a double steal to make it a 3-1 game.

The Bears capitalized on a UMD miscue in the home half of the fifth to make it a one-run game. Sophomore first baseman Morgan Cournoyer (Burrillville, R.I.) singled to lead off the inning and two outs later Marcotte reached on the dropped third strike. Sophomore right fielder Madison Flamme (Bethel, Conn.) then beat out an infield hit to plate Cournoyer and cut the deficit to 3-2.

A pair of crucial errors in the bottom of the sixth allowed Bridgewater to knot the score at 3-3. Graduate centerfielder Alexandra Ruprecht (Kingston, Mass.), who opened the frame with a base hit, came around to score following back-to-back Corsair miscues including a key two-base throwing error.

UMass stranded two runners on base in the top of the seventh, while the Bears had the winning run standing on third base with two outs in the bottom of the seventh but could not score.

Chubbuck went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI to pace the UMD offensive in game two.

Marcotte singled, doubled and scored a run on four at bats, while Ruprecht went 1-for-2 with a walk to lead the way for Bridgewater State.

In upcoming action, the Bears travel to UMass Boston on Thursday afternoon for a three o'clock doubleheader with the Beacons. The Corsairs host a twinbill with Wheaton College on Friday afternoon also at three.