Worcester Polytechnic Institute

WORCESTER -- Third-seeded UMass Dartmouth defeated top-seeded and No. 12 WPI, 6-2, in Game 4 of the NCAA Division III Softball Championship Worcester Regional on Saturday morning at Rooftop Field. The Corsairs improve to 32-11 and advance to the championship round, while WPI moves to 43-4 and will play later in the day in an elimination game.
 
UMass Dartmouth used a three-run third inning to break a tie game and never trailed the rest of the way, while limiting WPI to just four hits in the contest.
 
Lucy Latour (North Dighton, MA) led WPI with two hits, while Sandy Fairbairn (Norton, MA) scored a run and added a hit. Riley O'Brien (Wynantskill, NY) also contributed a hit as the Engineers struggled to generate consistent offense despite drawing six walks.
 
For UMass Dartmouth, Sydney Menz (Stoughton, MA) delivered the biggest swing of the game, driving in two runs with a double in the third inning. Olivia Silva (Swansea, MA) added an RBI single, while Lena Tsonis (New Bedford, MA) chipped in an RBI.
 
UMass Dartmouth struck first in the opening inning when Silva singled to center to score Raelynn Perregaux (Torrington, CT) for a 1-0 lead.
 
WPI answered in the second without recording a hit, capitalizing on a defensive error to bring home Meg Sherwood (Norfolk, MA) and even the score at 1-1.
 
The Corsairs regained the lead in the second inning in unusual fashion, as Emma Talpey (Bridgewater, MA) stole home during a rundown to make it 2-1.
 
WPI again answered in the third, taking advantage of another error as Sherwood reached and eventually came around to score, tying the game at 2-2.
 
UMass Dartmouth responded immediately in the bottom half with the decisive rally. With two outs and runners on base, Menz delivered a two-run double down the left-field line to give the Corsairs a 4-2 lead, and Tsonis followed with an RBI single to extend the advantage to 5-2.
 
From there, the Corsairs maintained control. UMass Dartmouth added an insurance run in the sixth, taking advantage of aggressive baserunning as a double steal saw Menz score to push the lead to 6-2.
 
Brielle Kenney (Waterford, CT) earned the win in relief, allowing just one run on three hits over five innings, while Edy Crawford (Exeter, NH) started and allowed one unearned run over two innings. Naomi Boldebuck (Billerica, MA) took the loss for WPI, allowing six runs over six innings.
 
With the win, UMass Dartmouth advances to Sunday's championship round at 11:00am. WPI will face the winner of the afternoon elimination game between Stockton and Albertus Magnus later Saturday at 4:00pm for a chance to advance to Sunday.
 
Box Score