NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. - The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s softball team built an early lead in the opener and got a strong pitching performance in the nightcap to sweep a non-conference doubleheader from Curry, 9-7 and 4-2, at the UMass Dartmouth Athletic Complex Saturday.
Sophomore catcher Hannah Rounds gave the Corsairs a first-inning lead with a three-run homer. After freshman Marissa Strangie (Rowley, MA) hit a sacrifice fly to score a run for the Colonels in the second, the Corsairs scored in their half when Rounds hit into a fielder’s choice. UMass Dartmouth scored five times in the third inning, twice on a double by freshman Taylor Ham, twice more on freshman shortstop Breanna Marcyoniak’s single, and again on a double by junior Michelle Conway.
The Colonels came back in the fourth, scoring four times. Sophomore Laikyn Nadolny (East Bridgewater, MA) singled home two runs, and junior Janelle Mayo (Worcester, MA) drove in another with an infield out. Strangie homered in the fifth for another Curry run and Mayo knocked in another in the sixth with another infield out, but UMD freshman reliever Samantha Howarth escaped further trouble and pitched a scoreless seventh inning to preserve the lead. Howarth got the win in relief of starter Alyssa Hosford and improved to 1-1, while sophomore Jillian Nemcovich (Franklin, NH) took the loss for the Colonels and fell to 0-2.
Mayo doubled home two runs in the top of the third for Curry in the nightcap, but that was all the Colonels could muster against Hosford, who pitched a three-hitter and improved to 2-1. Rounds singled home a run and sophomore Kaitlin Hogan doubled home two more to give the Corsairs the lead in the bottom of the third, and Conway’s infield grounder brought home the fourth and final UMD run in the bottom of the fifth. Amanda Peters took the loss for Curry, falling to 0-5.
UMass Dartmouth improved to 4-4 with the sweep, while Curry dropped to 4-6. The Corsairs will return to action when they host Massachusetts Maritime Wednesday. The Colonels will host Roger Williams Sunday. (Game recaps courtesy of UMD Sports Information)
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
