Castleton, Vt.—Sophomore shortstop
Joey Meyer (South Milwaukee, Wis.) went 2-for-3 with an RBI as No. 5 Rhode Island College lost, 8-3, vs. No. 2 UMass Dartmouth in final (game 11) of the 2026 Little East Softball Championship, hosted by VTSU Castleton on Saturday afternoon.
THE BASICS
No. 2 UMass Dartmouth 8, No. 5 Rhode Island College 3
UMass Dartmouth (30-11)
Rhode Island College (27-14)
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Corsairs forced the deciding game with a 2-1 victory in game 10 earlier in the day.
• Senior second baseman
Noelle Simmons (Goffstown, N.H.) put the Anchorwomen up in the top of the first as she singled and later scored on a Meyer RBI base knock.
• RIC gave the lead back in the bottom of the first, but put two across in the top of the second to build a 3-2 lead. Junior right fielder
Sydney Duclos (North Providence, R.I.) notched an RBI single and Simmons plated one on an RBI ground out.
• UMD scored two runs in the second, third and fourth innings to build an 8-3 advantage. RIC loaded the bases with one down in the sixth, but a double play on a line drive quickly put an end to the rally.
• Senior pitcher
Gabby Cunha (Cranston, R.I.) was saddled with the loss (8-8).
TOURNAMENT FACTS
• The Anchorwomen were picked to finish last (ninth place) in the Little East Preseason Coaches' Poll and finished the season with a 27-14 overall record and were one game away from claiming the Little East Championship title.
• Freshman pitcher
Mia Crudale (Cranston, R.I.) was outstanding during the tournament, appearing in four games and starting three of them. She was 2-1 with a 1.95 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 28.2 innings of work.
• Sophomore first baseman
Jillian Guilfoyle (Derby, Conn.) batted .400 (6-for-15) in the five-game tournament with a double and an RBI.
• Junior catcher
Brianna Bailey (Windsor, Conn.) batted .375 (6-for-16) with three runs scored. Senior center fielder
Sophia Crudale (Cranston, R.I.) led the team with four RBI to go along with two runs scored and a pair of doubles.
