Late Rally Lifts Softball to 4-3 Victory in Game Two at UMass Dartmouth

North Dartmouth, Mass. – The Framingham State University softball team rallied for two run in the top of the seventh inning of game two to record a 4-3 victory of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in a non-conference twin bill this afternoon.

Sophomore Shannon Orton (Swansea, Mass.) hurled a complete-game five hitter to lead the Corsairs to a 4-2 victory over in the opener. 

Making its first appearance in 13 days since its Spring Break trip to Fort Myers, Fla., UMass Dartmouth improved to 4-8.  Framingham State completed the twinbill with a mark of 5-11.

UMass Dartmouth 4, Framingham State 2

Orton backstopped the Corsairs to their third consecutive victory with a complete-game gem.  The right-hander limited the Rams to two earned runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out six.  Orton found her rhythm in the third inning, retiring 13 consecutive batters into the seventh inning.   

Senior Bre Marcyoniak(Westfield, Mass.) and freshman Ally Santerre (Swansea, Mass.) led UMass Dartmouth with a pair of base knocks.  Marcyoniak went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Santerre recorded two singles and scored a pair of runs.  Sophomore Rachel Carey (Holbrook, Mass.) was 1-for-3 from the dish with a RBI.

The Corsairs cracked the scoring column in the bottom of the first inning as Santerre led off with a single down the left field line and advanced to second on a wild pitch.  The hosts pushed Santerre to third on a sacrifice bunt.  Freshman Marissa Spinuzzi (Fair Lawn, N.J.) gave UMD the early advantage on a dribbler down the right base line to plate Santerre. The Corsairs tried to increase their advantage, but a double play ended the threat with two runners in scoring position.

Framingham State wasted little time responding in the second frame, as the Rams strung together three straight singles to load the bases with two outs.  Freshman Marissa Flynn (Marlborough, Mass.) hit a slow single to shortstop that scored a pair of runs to give the visitors the 2-1 lead.

The back and forth affair continued in the bottom half of the inning as Marcyoniak laced a single to centerfield to knot the contest at 2-all.

UMass Dartmouth was able to capitalize on a Rams' defensive miscue to regain its advantage in the fifth inning.  Santerre utilized a bunt single to ignite the two-out rally and moved into scoring position when sophomore Shannon Droney (Franklin, Mass.) drew a walk.  The Corsairs took a lead they would never relinquish, when Spinuzzi reached on an errant throw that scored Santerre from second.  The hosts would tack on an insurance run in the next inning to provide Orton with more than enough run support.

Senior Andrea Smith (Milford, Mass.) was the hard luck loser, throwing six strong innings of work.  She held UMass Dartmouth to three earned runs on eight hits, while striking out three.

Framingham State 4, UMass Dartmouth 3 

Freshman Alea Martinelli (Everett, Mass.) launched her first collegiate home run with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning to snap a 2-all tie, but the Rams used a patient approach in the seventh to rally past the Corsairs.

Trailing by one run, Framingham State changed its offensive approach and began to take more pitches as Spinuzzi entered her seventh inning of work.  The Rams' strategy paid off as the visitors benefited from four free passes to score two runs without producing a hit.  Junior Shelby Phillips (Taunton, Mass.) and freshman Casey Fanning (Boston, Mass.) each drew walks with the bases loaded.

Framingham State sophomore Alex Ferri (Winthrop, Mass.) seized the opportunity to close out her first win of the season, retiring the Corsairs' in order in the bottom of the seventh.  She went the distance for the Rams, surrendering three runs on nine hits, while fanning two.     

Santerre once again set the table for the hosts, turning in her second multi-hit performance of the afternoon.  Marcyoniak went 2-for-3 with a run scored, while freshman Chelsea Correia (Bridgewater, Mass.) was 2-for-4. 

UMass Dartmouth will return to action tomorrow afternoon, when the Corsairs travel to Roger Williams for a non-conference doubleheader. The Rams are back in action on Friday afternoon with a non-conference doubleheader at Pine Manor.