By Jim Fenton
DARTMOUTH, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
Junior Makayla Ansell (Menifee, Calif.) provided the game-winning hit in the opener for the Bears, a three-run home run, as they rallied for a7-6 victory over the Corsairs Wednesday afternoon.
In the second game, BSU was limited to three hits in a 5-1 loss, ending a four-game winning streak.
BSU (9-5) had gone 0-7-1 in its last eight games against UMass Dartmouth (9-3) before winning the opener. The Bears' last win over the Corsairs had been in 2019.
Game One: Bridgewater State 7, UMass Dartmouth 6
The Bears fell behind, 5-2, before scoring twice in the top of the fourth inning and getting the homer from Ansell with two outs in the sixth inning.
Trailing, 5-4, in the sixth, BSU had two runners on when winning pitcher Olyvia Mendonca (Taunton, Mass.), a senior, and senior Angelina Lynch (Taunton, Mass.) both reached on a fielder's choice.
Ansell then homered to left field to give the Bears the lead. It was the first round-tripper of the season for Ansell and third in her career.
BSU held a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Lynch doubled to right, and after a single to right by junior Sydney Schaefer (Swarthmore, Pa.), scored on a throwing error.
The Corsairs went ahead, 3-1, in the bottom of the inning.
Senior Lena Tsonis (New Bedford, Mass.) had a two-run single and senior Emma Talpey (Bridgewater, Mass.) drove in a run with a hit.
BSU closed within 3-2 in the third on a sacrifice fly to center by Ansell, which brought home Lynch.
UMass Dartmouth added two runs in the third as senior Sydney Menz (Stoughton, Mass.) had an RBI single down the line in left and Talpey drew a bases-loaded walk.
The Bears cut the deficit to 5-4 in the fourth as Lynch drove in a run with a double to left-center and Schaefer added an RBI single to center.
UMass Dartmouth scored the game's final run in the bottom of the seventh. After a double to left by junior Lily Routhier (Attleboro, Mass.) and a groundout, Tsonis delivered a sacrifice fly.
Mendonca improved to 2-1 with the win, scattering 11 hits.
Lynch was 3-for-4 with four runs scored while Schaefer and Ansell also had three hits. Schwartz reached base four times with two hits and two walks.
Senior RaeLynn Perregaux (Torrington, Conn.) led UMass Dartmouth with three hits while Routhier, Tsonis and Menz added two hits each.
Game Two: UMass Dartmouth 5, Bridgewater State 1
BSU managed just a double by sophomore Aubrey Carberry (North Dartmouth, Mass.) and singles by senior Victoria Becker (Abington, Mass.) and Mendonca.
The Corsairs jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
Perregaux reached on an infield hit, went to second on a groundout and scored on an error on a ball hit by Routhier. A single up the middle by Tsonis brought in the second run.
UMass Dartmouth took a 3-0 lead in the second on a one-out homer to center by freshman Brielle Kenney (Waterford, Conn.), the first of her collegiate career.
The Bears scored their first run in the fourth when Carberry doubled to right-center, stole third and scored on an errant throw when Becker stole second.
The Corsairs added two in the sixth.
Talpey singled, stole second and went to third and scored on wild pitches. Kenney, who had walked, scored on a single by Perregaux.
In addition to hitting a homer, Kenney was the winning pitcher and is now 4-0. She struck out eight and walked two.
BSU junior Lily Gioiosa (North Dartmouth, Mass.) took the loss, allowing nine hits with five strikeouts and is now 2-1.
The Bears will open the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference schedule Saturday. BSU plays Fitchburg State at home in a doubleheader starting at 12:30 p.m.
UMass Dartmouth plays a pair of games Saturday at 1 p.m. against Plymouth State.