Softball Drops Two Against UMass Dartmouth

Framingham, MA - Sophomore right fielder Michelle Conway (Burrillville, RI) belted an RBI double in the top of the seventh to lift UMass Dartmouth to a 4-3 win in the second game and a sweep of the host Framingham State Rams in non-conference softball action this afternoon at Farley Field.  UMass Dartmouth, who won the first game 7-3, improves to 7-9 on the season with the two victories, while the Rams fall to 4-22.

In game one, UMass Dartmouth freshman pitcher Brittany Eldridge (Raynham, MA) pitched seven innings of five-hit softball, allowing three runs (one earned) while striking out three to pick up the win on the mound.

UMass Dartmouth scored five runs in the top of the first inning on RBI singles from Emily Surprenant (Attleboro, MA), Bethany Berube (Dartmouth, MA) and Kaitlin Hogan (Tewksbury, MA), to open up a comfortable lead.

The Rams answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first as freshman shortstop Christy Ulak (Rehoboth, MA) belted a double to center and senior third baseman Colleen Clancy (Lynn, MA) bunted for a single to start the inning.  Ulak scored on senior Liz Ranton's (Milton, MA) grounder to second that was booted by the Corsairs second baseman.  Senior catcher Rachel Timmons (Malden, MA) was hit by a pitch to load the bases and DiTerlizzi was able to score the Rams second run on a pass ball. 

Eldridge retired the next 12 batters she faced and the Corsairs offense was able to push across two runs in the top of the fifth on an RBI triple from Surpenant and an RBI ground out by senior short stop Vicki Andruszkiewicz (Danvers, MA) to put the game out of reach.

In the nightcap, the Corsairs once again took an early lead with two runs in the top of the second on an RBI double to center by Surprenant and a single run in the top of the third on an RBI ground out by sophomore pitcher Ashley Puls (West Springfield, MA).

The Rams were able to cut into the deficit in the bottom of the second as junior Anglea DiSanto (Easthampton, MA) led off with a single and advance to second on an error.  Clancy sacrificed her over to third and DiSanto beat the throw home on a fielder's choice of the bat of junior Kelsey Curley (Wilbraham, MA).  Curley eventually came around to score the Rams second run on an RBI single up the middle of the bat of sophomore pitcher Andrea DiTerlizzi (Shrewsbury, MA).

The Rams tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the fourth as senior outfielder Sarah Douillette (Lakeville, MA) scored when Clancy was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. 

The game would go into the seventh tied setting the stage for Conway's double that drove home the game winning run.  Freshman pitcher Alysia Morrissette (Ware, MA) picked up the loss for the Rams as she pitched three innings of relief allowing the one run on four hits while striking out one. DiTerlizzi started the game for the Rams and went four innings allowing three runs on six hits.  Freshman Kristie Duval (Hanover, MA) and Puls combined to pitch seven innings allowing three runs (none earned) and scattering five hits.  Puls picked up the win as she allowed only one hit in 3.2 innings of relief.

The Rams return to action on Tuesday as they travel to Salem State for a double header beginning at 2:30 p.m., while the Corsairs travel to Southern Maine on Saturday at 1 p.m.