Castleton, Vt.—Senior pitcher
Gabby Cunha (Cranston, R.I.) hurled a complete game to power No. 5 Rhode Island College past No. 1-seeded and tournament host VTSU Castleton, 4-3, in game four of the 2026 Little East Softball Championship on Friday morning.
THE BASICS
No. 5 Rhode Island College 4, No. 1 VTSU Castleton 3
Rhode Island College (26-12)
VTSU Castleton (21-13)
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Spartans jumped out to a 3-0 lead, thanks to an RBI single and a two-run homer.
• RIC started to rally in the third as senior second baseman
Noelle Simmons (Goffstown, N.H.) scored on a throwing error.
• The visitors used a three-run rally in the fifth to go up by a run. Simmons doubled in a run and scored on senior center fielder
Sophia Crudale's (Cranston, R.I.) RBI single. Junior third baseman
Melanie Earley (Lumberton, R.I.) then brought in Crudale with an RBI single.
• Cunha kept the Spartans at bay until the bottom of the seventh when the hosts loaded the bases with one out. Sophomore shortstop
Joey Meyer (South Milwaukee, Wis.) gunned down the tying run at the plate and junior catcher
Brianna Bailey (South Windsor, Conn.) completed the double play with a throw down to third to end the game.
• Simmons went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Crudale also went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
• Cunha allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out three for her eighth (8-1) win.
WHAT'S NEXT
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will face No. 6 UMass Boston in game seven of the Little East Championship on Saturday, May 9 (10 a.m.).
