By Nicole Belair, Staff Writer
Four errors and a solid lead from Framingham State wrapped up an 8-1 loss for UMass Dartmouth on Saturday.
The Corsairs offense was on fire on Thursday in a doubleheader against Worcester State, taking a tight loss in game one but shutting out the Lancers in game two.
UMass Dartmouth first-year, Maxine Vincent, belted her first career home run, and was responsible for the team’s lone score on Saturday. The Corsairs split time between three pitchers, with junior Hannah Smith taking the loss despite no earned runs and three strikeouts.
The Rams connected off Smith from the start, but were unable to plate a run until the second inning; a UMass Dartmouth error with the bases loaded sent Framingham State’s Marissa Flynn home.
Smith reached third base on the Corsairs’ next at-bat after a single to left field and two grounders from Gracie Trudeau and Nicole McSweeney, but was unable to make it home. The Rams added on two more runs by the bottom of the third, and increased the score to 6-0 over the next two innings.
UMass Dartmouth had a chance to get home at the start of the fifth after Brittany Polk advanced to third, but the Corsairs weren’t able to advance her all the way home.
Vincent broke through for the Corsairs in the top of the sixth when she sent the ball over the left-field fence in her first at-bat of the game. However, her home run would not be enough, as Framingham State pulled off a two-RBI double in the bottom of the same inning. The rest of the game remained scoreless, and the Rams dominated the Corsairs 8-1.
The Corsairs faced Worcester State for a doubleheader on Saturday at home, taking a 4-3 loss and a 4-0 win. UMass Dartmouth totaled seventeen hits on the day, nearly coming back for the win in the first game, and shutting out the Lancers in the second.
The Lancers took a 4-0 lead through the first three innings, scoring the first run on an error in the first frame and an RBI double in the second. Worcester State had back-to-back doubles in the third inning, and Kayla Humphrey hit a sacrifice fly for another RBI. A third double in the inning plated a fourth run for the visitors.
UMass Dartmouth cut the Lancers’ lead in half at the bottom of the third. With McSweeney and Maddie O’Gryzek on base, Emily Colton sent a ball to right field for the RBI. Cierra Sheerin then sent Colton home from second for the RBI groundout.
Corsair first-year pitcher, Annika Evensen, kept the win in reach for the Corsairs throughout the remaining three innings. Colton, Marissa Spinuzzi, and Sheerin made it on base with one out. Polk hit deep to left, rounding Colton, but the Lancers caught the runner on third before the end of the play. Without the time to complete the comeback, the game ended with the Lancers on top 4-3.
Smith silenced Worcester State’s bats in the second game with five innings of no hits. The Corsairs, on the other hand, had seven hits and took the win in the shortened second game. Polk and Spinuzzi lead the Corsairs offensively in game two with extra-base hits for RBI, and Vincent also registered an RBI single.
The Corsairs advanced their lead in the fourth, when Polk sent the ball to the right-center fence for her first career triple, which plated Maddie Lee from first. Vincent hit a single in the next at-bat, and Polk successfully dodged the throw home, sealing the victory for the Corsairs.
UMass Dartmouth now holds a 10-7 record. They will host Bridgewater State for a doubleheader on Thursday, beginning at 3:30 p.m. The Corsairs will then travel to Plymouth State on Saturday, and Wheaton on Tuesday for a rescheduled doubleheader.