Lena Tsonis caps career at UMass Dartmouth with LEC title, NCAA berth

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Tsonis likes UMD’s chances with the way the Corsairs are playing.

“We’re on such a high right now as a team and we have so much power, everyone is so excited to be there,” she said. “Obviously our team’s goal is to win it all. We want to win this region and go to super regions and get to the world series, but I just want to take it one step at a time and get that first win that we didn’t have that first year.”

UMass Dartmouth won the 2026 Little East Conference championship in softball.

Winning the LEC for the second time in school history didn’t come easily for UMass Dartmouth as the Corsairs suffered a 1-0 opening loss to UMass Boston and had to battle back through the loser’s bracket to reach Championship Sunday like they did in 2023.

Needing two wins, UMD beat Rhode Island College 2-1 in the first game and 8-3 in game two to secure the 2026 LEC crown and an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III tournament.

“It was a non-stop battle,” Tsonis said. “It was a grind. It’s amazing to get to this point again and show everyone that we are the best in this conference.”

This year, the Corsairs led the Little East in team batting average (.345), at-bats (1,138), hits (393), doubles (79), fewest strikeouts (110) and earned run average (2.53). UMD also ranks first in the nation in double plays (31) and double plays per game (0.76).

"Winning the LEC has been their goal from the beginning so they are more than excited to be able to accomplish it," Powers said. "The buy-in from the team to training plan, weight room and their overall goal was to win the LEC  this whole year. Many of them putting in time in the offseason to better their game. Not only have they continued to strengthen their skills, but also their softball IQs and level of playing the game at a fast pace.

"The team has been special in many ways. We have a talented, versatile roster that has exceled in the 'what does the team need' mentality very well."

The Corsairs feature a pair of standout starting pitchers in sophomore Edy Crawford and freshman Brielle Kenney. The duo have combined for 25 of the team’s wins and 141 strikeouts. Crawford is 14-8 on the mound, allowing 61 runs (44 earned) on 142 hits and 30 walks with 64 strikeouts over 137.2 innings for a 2.24 ERA. Kenney, who is 11-3, owns an ERA of 2.98, allowing 56 runs (47 earned) on 101 hits and 30 walks with a team-high 77 strikeouts over 110.1 innings pitched.

Senior third baseman RaeLynn Perregaux, who was named the 2026 LEC Tournament Most Outstanding Player, leads the team with a .430 batting average and 65 hits with a team-best 19 doubles, 2 triples and 6 home runs. She also has scored 38 runs with 32 RBIs.

Lena Tsonis is fourth on UMass Dartmouth's team with a .368 batting average. In 40 games, she has 46 hits in 125 at bats with 10 doubles, 3 home runs and a team-high 32 RBIs.

Tonis is fourth on the team with a .368 batting average on the season. In 40 games, she has 46 hits in 125 at bats with 10 doubles, 3 home runs and a team-high 32 RBIs.

“It really feels like my breakthrough year,” Tsonis said. “I’ve gone through a lot the past couple of years with not playing as much as I wanted and I had some injuries. The fact that I can come in here and do what I know I can do and give my team the best chances to win feels great.

“It brings a lot more joy into all of it that I can show everyone what I can do and put my role into the game and help my team out.”

UMass Dartmouth team members include Tsonis, Perregaux, Crawford, Kenney, Kacie Lynch (Diman), Emma Talpey (Bridgewater-Raynham), Bre Fontes (Case), Olivia Silva (Case), Aubry Mabrouk (Bristol-Plymouth), Sydney Menz (Stoughton), Nina O'Neil (Silver Lake), Lily Routhier (Attleboro), Olivia Ali (King Philip), Liv Matos and Chloe Edwards.

The winner of Thursday's game between UMD and Stockton advances to Friday's 11 a.m. game to face the winner of WPI and Albertus Magnus. The losing team from each game on Thursday will meet on Friday at 1:30 p.m.

"Play one ball at a time, and not allow the moment to be bigger than us," said Powers of the team's mentality entering NCAA's. "They have made adjustments all season to continue on the path we are on, and will continue to do that for as long as the game allows us to compete."

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Tsonis helps UMass Dartmouth softball win LEC title, secure NCAA berth