WORCESTER -- Third-seeded UMass Dartmouth defeated top-seeded and No. 12 WPI, 8-2, in the Worcester Regional championship game on Sunday morning at Rooftop Field in the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Corsairs improve to 33-11 and advance to the Super Regionals. WPI concludes its season at 44-5, ending a historic season that saw the Engineers set the program record for wins.

UMass Dartmouth broke open a tight game with a five-run sixth inning, turning a one-run lead into a commanding advantage to capture the Worcester Regional championship.
 
For UMass Dartmouth, Raelynn Perregaux (Torrington, CT) went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI, and two runs scored, while Olivia Ali (Wrentham, MA) added three hits and scored a run. Chloe Edwards (Windham, ME) delivered two hits and drove in two runs, and Sydney Menz (Stoughton, MA) tallied two hits and scored twice as the Corsairs totaled 12 hits.

Sandy Fairbairn (Norton, MA) and Riley O'Brien (Wynantskill, NY) each collected three hits to lead WPI's 11-hit effort, while Meg Sherwood (Norfolk, MA) added two hits and scored a run. Lucy Latour (North Dighton, MA) and Destiny Lum (Kahalu?u, HI) each drove in a run for the Engineers, who stranded 10 runners in the loss.

UMass Dartmouth struck first in the opening inning, stringing together three hits as Perregaux singled and later scored on an RBI single from Olivia Silva (Swansea, MA), while Bre Fontes (Swansea, MA) added an RBI groundout to make it 2-0.

The Corsairs added to their lead in the second inning when Menz doubled and later scored on a wild pitch, extending the advantage to 3-0.

WPI broke through in the fourth. O'Brien doubled and Sherwood followed with a single before Lum delivered a pinch-hit RBI single through the left side to score Colleen Mayer (Hillsborough, NJ), who pinch ran for O'Brien. Later in the inning, Latour added an RBI single to right to plate Sherwood and cut the deficit to 3-2.

The game remained tight into the sixth before UMass Dartmouth delivered the decisive rally. Lena Tsonis (New Bedford, MA), Emma Talpey (Bridgewater, MA), and Menz each singled to load the bases before Lily Routhier (Attleboro, MA) brought home a run with a sacrifice fly. Edwards followed with a two-run single down the left-field line, scoring Menz and Talpey, and Perregaux capped the inning with a two-run home run to push the lead to 8-2.

Edy Crawford (Exeter, NH) earned the win, toss four innings of scoreless relief to close out the victory, while starter Brielle Kenney (Waterford, CT) allowed two runs on seven hits over the first three innings. Abby Merchant (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) took the loss for WPI after allowing three runs on six hits over three innings.

Perregaux was named the Regional's Most Outstanding Player and was joined on the All-Tournament team by teammates Kenney, Crawford , Menza and Silva as well as WPI's Emma Nagy (Monroe, WA), Fairbairn and O'Brien, Albertus Magnus' Annabelle Jabs (East Hartland, CT) and Camryn Harry (Swedesboro, NJ) of Stockton.

With the win, UMass Dartmouth advances to the Super Regionals, beginning May 21 or 22 at a site to be determined. 

About the NEWMAC

The NEWMAC is an association of 13 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Saint Anselm College (beginning reclassification process with NCAA in 2027-28), Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with eight Associate Members: Brandeis University (Women's Lacrosse, 2026-2027), New York University (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), SUNY New Paltz (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), and Vassar College (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), while sponsoring 21 sports.