DARTMOUTH — The Case softball team advance to their third consecutive state finals.

But not before there was a little controversy sprinkled in during Wednesday's Division 4 Final Four contest at UMass-Dartmouth.

With no outs in the bottom of the fifth, Cardinals sophomore Madilyn Botelho laid down a bunt on an 1-0 count with a runner on first. Advanced Math and Science catcher Sophia Hammel scooped up the loose ball but fired wildly to first, allowing runners to move to second and third.

"When I bunted it, I guess they thought my bat hit the bunt," said Botelho after defending state champion Case blanked the Eagles, 2-0 in the Division 4 Final Four contest at UMass-Dartmouth. "But it did not. I've always been taught that when you bunt the ball you always put the bat right behind the ball. It's harder for the catcher to get the ball."

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