BOSTON, Mass. – Errors and runners left in scoring position would prove costly for UMass Boston Softball on Tuesday afternoon in their doubleheader against UMass Dartmouth, as a late Corsair rally in game one followed by five unearned runs in game two led to the Beacons being swept for the first time this season in Little East Conference doubleheader, 6-4 and 7-0, at home.
 
THE BASICS

UMass Boston 4, UMass Dartmouth 6
UMass Boston 0, UMass Dartmouth 7
 
UMass Boston (17-11, 4-6 LEC)
UMass Dartmouth (19-10, 6-4 LEC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

Game 1: UMass Boston 4, UMass Dartmouth 6
Momentum would be in favor of UMass Boston for much of the game as they quickly struck for two runs in the first inning against graduate pitcher Jill Richards after back-to-back singles to start the frame by freshman outfielder Sofie Richland and sophomore infielder Kaylee Bruce put two on for the Beacons. It would be sophomore utility player Amauri English doing the damage with a two-run double which put the Beacons up by two until the next inning.

A leadoff double by sophomore infielder Larissa Piessens and a fielding error by freshman infielder Lauren Miner allowed the Corsairs to get a run back, making it 2-1. The Beacons nearly regained a two-run advantage in the third as a frozen rope down the right field line by Bruce would dove for and missed by freshman outfielder Sydney Menz allowing the sophomore to get all the way to third for a triple. Bruce would be sent for home as the ball rolled all the way to the wall following the dive, but a perfect relay would nab her at home and keep the score the same.

Two more runs would plate for the Beacons in the fourth as it would be sophomore catcher Kaitlyn Sawyer's towering two-run double to center gave UMass Boston a three-run cushion, 4-1, as junior pitcher Emily Doble was continuing to deal through four. However, things would begin to unravel in the sixth for the Beacons as three costly errors would swing the game in favor of the Corsairs.

Back-to-back doubles from Piessens and junior first baseman Hailey Lyons allowed a run to score before a fielding error on a fly out by graduate catcher Lindsay Chubbuck made it a one-run game, 4-3. Doble would nearly escape the inning with the lead following a Miner throwing error as a line drive back to the junior by sophomore outfielder Kinu Takasugi nearly resulted in Doble doubling off Menz at second.
 
Graduate shortstop Leah Major would tie the game with an RBI single and a line drive by Richards to senior outfielder Sydney Sanden, who started at shortstop, deflected off her glove allowing the go-ahead run to score. A wild pitch by junior pitcher Bri Melchionda, who entered the game in the seven, allowed the Corsairs to take a 6-4 advantage. UMass Boston would put runners on second and third with two outs against Richards in the seventh, but Richards would retire Bruce to end the Beacons' rally chance and the game.
 
Game 2: UMass Boston 0, UMass Dartmouth 7
A duel between junior pitchers Kaitlyn Shirshac and Bri Melchionda would unfold in the second game with both starters holding their opposition in check. A two-out stolen base by Piessens in the opening frame would prove important as freshman third baseman RaeLynn Perregaux's single that squirted up the middle would score Piessens and give the Corsairs a 1-0 lead right off the bat.

UMass Boston would have their chances to score through each of the first five innings against Shirshac. In the first, Richland would get to third with one out but would not be driven home by the heart of the Beacon order. A two-out runner on second in the second followed by a two-out runner on third in the third through fifth innings would be stranded as Shirshac worked around the threat to maintain the one-run lead for the Corsairs.

The effort would give UMass Dartmouth enough time to provide their pitcher with a cushion as a junior catcher Dyonna Rodas would reach on a throwing error by Sanden which would end up setting up a big inning for the Corsairs. All with two outs, five runs would cross the plate in the sixth for UMass Dartmouth as an RBI single from Lyons, two-run double from Chubbuck, an RBI triple by Shirshac, and Melchionda wild pitch saw the Corsair lead stretch to six, 6-0.

UMass Dartmouth would plate one more on a wild pitch in the seventh and Shirshac would set the Beacons down in order in the bottom half of the frame as UMass Boston dropped to 4-6 in conference play, falling 7-0 in game two, while the Corsairs finished off the road doubleheader sweep.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Throwing only 87 pitches, Emily Doble went six innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits while striking out and walking one batter in the game one defeat
• Taking the loss in game two, Bri Melchionda went the full seven innings allowing seven runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out six and walking four
• UMass Boston has lost six consecutive games against UMass Dartmouth dating back to the 2021 season
• UMass Boston's fielding percentage drops to .934 for the season after combining for seven errors in the doubleheader

 
WHO'S NEXT
UMass Boston plays the backend of their two-game doubleheader against Suffolk University which was split up earlier this season, this Thursday at 4:00 PM on the road. The Beacons took down the Rams, 11-2, in six innings during their first matchup this season at the end of Match.