Softball Splits Non-Conference Twinbill with UMass Dartmouth

DARTMOUTH, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University softball team spilt a non-conference doubleheader with UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday afternoon at the UMD Softball Field.

The Bears (9-13) took the first game by a score of 4-3, while the host Corsairs (14-12) earned the split with a 7-3 victory in the nightcap.

In game one, senior Kathleen Bailey (Bayport, N.Y.) went the distance in the circle to record her sixth win of the season. Bailey (6-10) gave up three runs on ten hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.

Junior Kacie Carvalho (Fairhaven, Mass.) went 3-for-4 at the plate and scored three of the Bears' four runs in the opener.

Senior Courtney Leddy (Saugus, Mass.), freshman Shannon Grindle (Halifax, Mass.) and senior Morgan Cox (Dennis Port, Mass.) each recorded an RBI.

Leddy's base hit in the first inning plated Carvalho with the first run of the game. The Bears tacked on two more runs in the third as senior Breanna Shaffer (Plainville, Mass.) and Carvalho came around to score when Grindle reached on an error.

Leading 3-2 after four innings of play, the Bears pushed across a key run when Cox singled home Carvalho from third in the top of the fifth.

Freshman Victoria Woodward (Middleboro, Mass.) picked up the loss for the Corsairs. Woodward (3-4) allowed four runs (one earned) on nine hits with a walk and a strikeout.

Junior Emily Colton (Kingston, Mass.) went 2-for-2 with a double, two walks and a pair of runs scored to highlight the UMD offense. Freshman Brittany Polk (Bridgewater, Mass.) checked in with two hits in three at bats with an RBI, while classmate Nicole McSweeney (Bridgewater, Mass.) went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored.

Colton scored all the way from first on senior Marissa Spinuzzi's (Fair Lawn, N.J.) RBI double with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to cut the UMD deficit to 4-3. Bailey, however, induced a ground out to short to strand the potential game-tying run at second and secure the win.

In game two, Grindle's two-run single in the rop of the third inning gave the Bears the early advantage. Grindle would come around to score on a UMD throwing error to extend the BSU lead to 3-0.

The Corsairs, however, answered with seven runs in the bottom of the inning. Colton's base loaded, three-run double tied the score, while freshman Ashtyn Phaneuf (New Bedford, Mass.) and senior Gracie Trudeau (Darftmouth, Mass.) each added two-run singles in the frame.

UMD freshman pitcher Annika Evenson (Lake Forest, Calif.) tossed four scoreless innings of relief to earn the win. Evenson (3-2) scattered three hits, did not issue a walk and fanned four.

Polk (2-for-3), Evenson (2-for-3) and Trudeau (2-for-2) finished with two hits apiece for the Corsairs.

Grindle went 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI to pace the BSU offense in game two. Cox (2-for-3) also finished with two hits.

Bailey pitched very well in relief of freshman starter Deianeira Underhill (Rochester, Mass.). Bailey, who was not involved in the decision, tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings with no walks and four strikeouts.

Underhill (2-2) allowed seven runs on nine hits in 2 2/3 innings. She walked one and fanned one.

In upcoming action, the Bears travel to Worcester State University on Friday afternoon for a two o'clock Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader with the Lancers. The Corsairs head to Salem State University on Wednesday afternoon for a pair of non-conference games with the Vikings starting at four.