NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth pitchers Jill Richards and Kaitlyn Shirshac combined to strike out 17 in 13 shutout innings over two games while allowing just five hits as the Corsairs extended the Keene State College softball team's struggles with 5-0 and 6-0 Little East Conference victories on Tuesday at the UMD Softball Complex in North Dartmouth.

Records

• Keene State:  7-23, 3-11 LEC
• UMass-Dartmouth:  21-10, 8-4 LEC

How It Happened
The Owls had one double and five singles on the afternoon and did not score a run as their losing streak was extended to seven games by the Corsairs, who have won four straight and 10 of the last 11 in a series they were 6-36 in at one point.  KSC was 3-4 in LEC play at one point after a 7-3 victory in the opener of a home doubleheader against Western Connecticut State University on April 15, and with it still in the playoff mix, but now find themselves three games behind the final playoff spot and would need significant help to have any chance of qualifying for the postseason tournament in a week in a half.  The Owls have only two league games remaining (against 5-7 Rhode Island College on Saturday at home), and after being blanked twice today, have scored two runs or fewer in six of their last seven games.  KSC had dropped three one-run decisions in a row including two Saturday at the University of Southern Maine, and it seemed early in the opener that the trend might be in that same direction again on this day.  However, UMass-Dartmouth scored two in the fourth and added on three more in the fifth to build a comfortable advantage that was not threatened.  After the Corsairs loaded the bases but did not score in the second and then stranded two more in the third, they took a 2-0 lead in the fourth on a sacrifice fly from Leah Major and a fielder's choice RBI from Dyonna Rodas.  Another quick KSC offensive inning followed, and the home team then built on that advantage with three unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth, including a two-out, two-run single from Rodas.

Keene State was held hitless by Richards until the sixth when Liv Whittier hit a single back at her with two outs.  Mia Ferry followed with a walk, but a strikeout ended the inning.  A hit batter, walk, and Lilah Demmy single loaded the bases with one out in the seventh as the Owls made a last ditch comeback attempt.  It did not last long, though, as a the Corsairs cut down a run at the plate on a grounder to first for the second out and then Richards (8-7) got Cote to ground back to her to end the game and her complete game shutout.  The UMD hurler allowed only two hits in the seven innings, walking four and striking out 10.

Carissa Miller (1-12) allowed only one earned run (five total) in six innings, but took the loss.  She allowed eight hits, walked five, and struck out one, but UMD left 11 people on base.

KSC stranded eight, as they did scatter around baserunners even earlier when they did not have a hit.  An error and a walk allowed two to reach at one point in the fourth in a scoreless game, but nothing came of it.  Then came big innings for the Corsairs immediately after.

Unlike the opener, UMass-Dartmouth took a quick lead in the nightcap and never looked back, with the ultimate story again remaining their starting pitcher.  This time, Shirshac (12-2) allowed just three hits in a scoreless effort over six frames.  She walked two and stuck out seven.  Whittier had two more hits including a double, finishing with half of KSC's hits on the day, but the Owls continue to search for offensive answers as their team batting average has fallen to .267 including .166 during the current slide.

The Corsairs had only one hit in the bottom of the first but still scored twice and then made it 3-0 in the second on Lindsay Chubbuck's solo homer.  KSC had a chance with two runners in scoring position in the top of the third thanks to a Molly Murray single to lead off the inning and then a Whittier double two batters later, but a strikeout and a liner to short left the Owls with another zero.  UMass-Dartmouth made it 4-0 with a two-out single from Hailey Lyons in the fifth and then tacked on two more in the sixth on RBI singles from Major and Richards to put the game further out of reach for KSC, who went down in order after Demmy's base hit in the final inning of the day.

"We have six games left.  We are continuing to battle and push through some injuries that have made this season challenging," said Keene State head coach Carrah Fisk Hennessey.  "Molly, Liv, and Lilah had good days at the plate."

"Teams that scout us know that we dig deep and play with heart.  Our pitchers and Grace (Hallett) worked together to keep batters off balance.  A couple of big hits for UMD and untimely errors by us got us away from our clean defense today.  We need to get on base, move runners, and score."

Demmy (4-7) took the loss in the nightcap, allowing six hits and three runs (two earned) in four innings with two walks and one strikeout.

Richards finished 3-for-4 with two RBI at the plate for UMass-Dartmouth in the second game.

Around the Horn

• Whittier is 5-for-10 with two RBI over the last four games.  She is hitting .289 on the season.
• KSC has scored three runs or less 18 times this season and has dropped all but one of those contests (a 3-1 win at Plymouth State University on April 11 is the lone win).

Up Next

• The Owls have a non-conference doubleheader at home against Westfield State University (21-9, 9-1 MASCAC) on Thursday, April 27 starting at 3:00 p.m.  KSC's final six games this season are all at home.
• UMass-Dartmouth hosts WestConn (19-17, 4-8 LEC) for two LEC games on Saturday, April 29 at 1:00 p.m.