ANCHORWOMEN SPLIT WITH CORSAIRS

Providence, R.I.-Rhode Island College freshman shortstop Kelsey Burgess (North Providence, RI) smacked a walk-off three-run double to lead the Anchorwomen to a game one victory as RIC split a Little East Conference doubleheader with UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday night at the Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex.

The Corsairs (22-11, 5-3, LEC) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in game one as senior first baseman Shannon Orton (Swansea, MA) led off with a single, was sacrificed to second came home on sophomore pitcher Hannah Smith’s (Attleboro, MA) RBI single.

Smith kept the Anchorwomen (12-14, 3-5 LEC) off the scoreboard until the bottom of the sixth. Junior center fielder Lauren Duvall (East Greenwich, RI) reached on a fielder’s choice and moved up to second on a throwing error. Sophomore first baseman Chelsea Schott (Meriden, CT) followed by evening the game, 1-1, with an RBI single.

Freshman shortstop Kelsey Burgess

UMD came right back in the top of the seventh to regain its advantage. Sophomore shortstop Emily Colton (Kingston, MA) led off and was hit by a pitch. After being sacrificed to second, she advanced to third on a passed ball and came across on junior second baseman Marissa Spinuzzi’s (Fair Lawn, NJ) sacrifice fly. Orton later scored on a wild pitch after doubling to put the visitors up by a pair, 3-1, with three outs to go.

The Anchorwomen stormed back in the bottom of the seventh to walk-off with the win. With one down, sophomore left fielder Sarah Molin (Seymour, CT) doubled and advanced to third on freshman catcher Emma Simmons’ (Saunderstown, RI) bunt single. Simmons stole second, and after a pop out, junior right fielder Lauren DiScuillo (East Providence, RI) drew a walk. Burgess cleared the bases with a double to right field to win the game, 4-3.

Senior pitcher Katelyn McCaughey (Warwick, RI) picked up the win (5-3), allowing three runs on seven hits in a complete game effort. Smith took the loss (11-6), allowing four runs on six hits in 6.2 innings of work.

UMD took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second in game two when freshman first baseman Briana Flaherty (Franklin, MA) reached on a fielder’s choice and later scored on sophomore left fielder Rebecca Field’s (Brentwood, TN) two-out RBI double.

Orton allowed just two hits over five innings of work to keep the Corsairs ahead by the slim margin. The Anchorwomen started their comeback in the bottom of the sixth when DiScuillo led off with a walk, moved over to second on a ground out and advanced to third on a wild pitch. With two down, Duvall brought in the tying run with an RBI single to third base. A Corsair error off a freshman first baseman Cristin Chiaverini (Pawtucket, RI) fly ball allowed Duvall to come all the way around to score and put the Anchorwomen on top, 2-1.

The Corsairs came back with the tying run in the top of seventh as a RIC error and a single put runners on second and third with two down. Field flied out to right field to bring in Orton with the equalizer and force extra innings.

UMD took the lead for the third time in the game in the top of the eighth when freshman center fielder Maddie O’Gryzek (Norfolk, MA) started off the frame with a bunt single and moved up on a Colton single. The duo were sacrificed to second and third and O’Gryzek trotted home on a wild pitch. Spinuzzi dealt a big blow with an RBI triple to bring in Colton and give the visitors a 4-2 win.

Orton picked up the win (11-5), allowing just two runs on four hits to go along with eight strikeouts. RIC freshman pitcher Briana Gough (West Warwick, RI) suffered the loss (5-4), allowing four runs on seven hits in eight innings of work.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will continue Little East Conference action at home against Plymouth State on Saturday, April 23 (1 p.m.).