Softball Powers Past UMass Dartmouth – 4-3 and 13-4
North Dartmouth, Mass. - The Framingham State University softball defeated the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in both games of a non-conference doubleheader at the UMass Dartmouth Athletic Complex Tuesday afternoon as the Rams narrowly defeated the Corsairs 4-3 in the opener before exploding for 13 runs in the nightcap to take a 13-4 six inning victory.
With the pair of victories the Rams have now won four straight and improve to 4-10 on the year, while UMass Dartmouth is now 8-12.
In the first game, the Rams took the early lead in the second inning as they played an unearned run on an RBI groundout off the bat of freshman Helen Falzone (Ashland, Mass.).
The Rams extended their lead to 3-0 with a pair of runs in the fifth inning. Falzone led off the inning with a walk and scored on a two run shot to left off the bat of sophomore Shelby Phillips (Taunton, Mass.).
UMass Dartmouth scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to knot the game at 3-3. Freshmen Shannon Orton (Swansea, MA/Case) and Katie McEachern (Wrentham, Mass.) led off the inning with back-to-back singles. A sacrifice bunt by sophomore infielder Jenna Sylvia (New Bedford, Mass.) placed both runners in scoring position. Orton scored on a subsequent passed ball before senior Breanna Marcyoniak (Westfield, Mass.) punched an RBI single to left field to plate McEachern. After Marcyoniak advanced to second on a groundout, junior infielder Emily Pontes (Tewksbury, Mass.) drove her in with a RBI single through the left side.
The Rams wasted little time in regaining the lead for good in the top of the sixth, as freshman Jess Anthony (Stoneham, Mass.) singled to bring home senior Yaya Faria (Acton, Mass.), who had walked to lead off the inning.
Faria (2-5) picked up the win on the mound for the Rams in the opener, striking out eight and scattering five hits. Orton (2-5) took the loss for UMD, though she struck out eight and allowed only three hits.
Framingham State jumped out to a three-run lead once again in the finale. An RBI single by junior Alyssa Begin (Salem, Mass.) and a two-run base hit by senior Taylor Ezold (Westfield, Mass.) accounted for the damage in the second inning.
UMass Dartmouth pushed across two runs of its own in the bottom of the frame as freshman pitcher Amanda McHugh (North Kingston, RI) and Orton both crossed home plate.
The Rams scored three more runs in the third inning to make it 6-2. Sophomore Kelly Naegelin (Scituate, Mass.) plated a run with an RBI single and Begin drove in a pair on a single to left.
McHugh and Orton both managed to circle the bases again in the bottom of the fourth, when they both scored on a wild pitch to pull the Corsairs back within two at 6-4.
Framingham State tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning and five more in the sixth to account for the 13-4 final. In the fifth, Naegelin drove in her second run of the game on a single to center and Ezold was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded forcing Naegelin home.
In the five run outburst in the fifth, Naegelin drove in two on a two run homer to left and Begin plated a pair on her second two RBI hit of the game.
Framingham State outhit the Corsairs 15-3 in game two.
Naegelin went 3-for-3 with a home run, four RBIs and three runs scored to pace the Ram offense. Begin went 3-for-4 with five RBI and a run scored, while Ezold added four RBI on a 2-for-4 performance.
Orton, McEachern and sophomore infielder Samantha Gregoire (Dartmouth, MA/Dartmouth) all had a hit apiece for the Corsairs.
Freshman Alex Ferri (Winthrop, Mass.) picked up the win in the circle for FSU to improve her record to 2-3. McHugh took the loss for UMD to fall to 3-4.
The Corsairs return to action when they host Keene State Saturday in a Little East Conference doubleheader at the 1 p.m., while the Rams will play Brandeis on Friday in a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.