Karissa Dupuis' Complete Game helps Pirates avoid Sweep

Published: Sunday, March 29, 2026

by Jake Marcial

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The Seton Hall Pirates (12-17, 3-9) beat the Providence Friars (14-12, 7-2) 4-3 on Sunday afternoon, salvaging a win in the final game of the series against one of the top teams in the BIG EAST.

Karissa Dupuis started in the circle for the Pirates, who were trying to avoid a sweep after losing the previous game 11-2 and being mercy-ruled in the sixth inning. The Pirates needed a big game from Dupuis, as Providence had scored 20 total runs through the first two games of the series, and they got exactly that.

Providence got on the board early again, scoring in the first inning for the third time in the series. Naya Martinez dropped a fly ball in right field off the bat of Cameron Dunn, who advanced to third due to the error. One batter later, Sofia Peterson brought Dunn in on a sacrifice groundout to give the Friars the early 1-0 advantage.

The Pirates would get runners on the corners in their half of the first, but stranded both. In the top of the second, a walk to Elisa Smith brought up Hailey Frantz, who doubled Smith home to bring the Friar lead to 2-0.

The Pirates would strike back in the home half of the second, as Andrea Perez hit a double to bring Loreale Blake all the way around from first to cut the Providence lead in half. 

Dupuis held the Friars scoreless in the third, and a leadoff home run from Sophia DeMarco tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom half of the inning. It was DeMarco’s team-leading sixth home run of the year.

Providence answered back immediately, with a leadoff home run of their own in the fourth inning off the bat of Elisa Smith. The Friars would then load the bases, but Dupuis induced a flyout to get out of the jam.

The Pirates did not go down quietly, however. Perez singled up the middle on the first pitch of the inning, then Christina Ginex ripped a double into the outfield, advancing Perez to third.

A bobble on the throw into third allowed Perez to come in to tie the game. Angelina Benitez bunted Ginex over to third, then DeMarco came through once again with a single through the left side of the infield to score Ginex and give the Pirates a 4-3 lead, their first of the series. 

The Friars threatened to score multiple times in the final three innings, but Karissa Dupuis stood strong in the circle. Providence loaded the bases in the fifth, but two nice plays by the Pirate infield held them scoreless.

After a 1-2-3 sixth inning, the Friars would have runners at first and second with one out in the seventh, looking to extend the game, but Dupuis forced two groundouts to finish off her complete game and the 4-3 victory for the Pirates.

Dupuis finished with seven innings pitched, three earned runs, five hits allowed, eight walks, and three strikeouts. DeMarco had a big day at the plate, going two for three with the home run and two RBI. Perez also had a two-hit day and an RBI.

For Providence, Elisa Smith led the way, going two for two with a home run and two walks.

After a big conference win for the Pirates, they return to action on Tuesday at home when they take on Stony Brook. Tune in to wsou.net at 2:00 P.M. for WSOU’s broadcast of the game.

Jake Marcial can be reached at jacob.marcial@student.shu.edu 

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