Softball orchestrates seven-run comeback to down UMass Dartmouth, 11-10

Tim Yean

Sports Editor

(NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I.) – Third-year third baseman Gabrielle Sweeney’s sacrifice fly sent in first-year shortstop Joey Meyer in the extra eighth inning to complete a seven-run comeback for Rhode Island College over the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 11-10 on Saturday, April 4.

After conceding 10 runs to the Corsairs in the first five innings of action, the Anchorwomen, which had only scored three runs at that point, exploded with five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to zip the visitors’ advantage to two. RIC never held an advantage throughout the game until the game-winning sac fly.

First-year Mia Crudale made her entrance onto the pitcher’s circle earlier than expected, usually appearing as the starter in game two. Still, the Cranston High School West alum pitched a scoreless final three innings to help in the comeback effort and bring her to 9-0 on the season.

Sweeney went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and three RBI, while scoring two runs herself. Classmate right fielder Sydney Duclos registered two hits for a double and three RBI, while second-year first baseman Jillian Guilfoyle went 3-for-5 with three RBI of her own.

Fourth-year Gabby Cunha began the game as the starting pitcher for the hosts, but caught a rough top of the first inning. Corsair batters had three hits and were walked twice, and a wild pitch hurled allowed for a runner to score to bring it to an early four-nothing advantage for the visitors.

RIC would cut the early lead with help from defensive errors by UMass Dartmouth. Jill Guilfoyle entered in the first two runs of the game on a hit to left field. Corsair left fielder Olivia Ali 

Head coach Lauren Hatfield opted to substitute Cunha for third-year Ashleigh von der Linden to handle the pitching for the second inning and beyond. The Corsairs would go scoreless in the second inning after their third baseman, RaeLynn Perregaux, was caught stealing from third base.

Dartmouth would rebound in the following inning with a three-run inning in the third, highlighted by a two-run homer from right fielder Lily Routhier, entrenching RIC into a deeper deficit.

Another multi-run inning in the next stanza extended the visitors’ lead to seven, just one away from the eight-run rule and potentially having the game conclude earlier at the end of the fifth inning if RIC were not to score. 

The Anchorwomen interrupted the UMass Dartmouth scoring at the bottom of the fourth with a groundout from Sydney Duclos to give enough time to first-year designated player Lily Bell to return to home plate for their fourth run of the afternoon.

The Corsairs matched the one run scored by the hosts in the previous inning with a run of their own to return themselves to the largest lead of the afternoon. A 10-3 lead with three innings of play left for RIC made it seem like a comeback was improbable, but the Anchorwomen heated up at the perfect moment at the bottom of the fifth inning.

Fourth-year center fielder Sophia Crudale and Joey Meyer were able to get on base for the Anchorwomen, and Crudale would be able to run back to home plate with a Jill Guilfoyle single to begin the scoring. Gabrielle Sweeney later doubled to left field with a deep hit to send in two additional runs. Facing a two-out situation from an earlier sacrifice bunt and pop-up, third-year catcher Brianna Bailey faced a similar pop-up ball on her swing, but a drop from the opposing second baseman allowed the junior to advance to second and bring in yet another run. One more run would be brought in from an RBI single by fourth-year second baseman Noelle Simmons. Crudale returned to the plate with a chance to tie with two runners on base, but grounded out to end the inning, much closer, but still down 10-8.

The electric shift in momentum resulted in another change at the pitcher’s circle for RIC, as Mia Crudale entered in the top of the sixth inning. UMass Dartmouth’s batters were shut down by stout Anchorwomen fielding. After a scoreless sixth inning from the Anchorwomen offense, Sydney Duclos tied the game up with a two-RBI double in the seventh to secure an eighth inning of play.

UMass Dartmouth saw only one runner get on base in the extra inning as all three outs came from ground balls to quickly return the scoring opportunity to RIC.

Joey Meyer singled up the middle to get on base, and she would be the game-winning baserunner. Gabrielle Sweeney would pelt a fly ball to center field to be out, but send Meyer in to close the game and complete the seven-run comeback.

The exciting comeback would follow up with a 6-4 loss to split the doubleheader between the Corsairs. Both teams finished out the day with a 2-2 record in Little East Conference action.

In their next doubleheader, RIC will travel to Worcester State on April 9 for a clash with the Lancers beginning at 4:00 p.m.