Softball Eliminated From MASCAC Tournament

Bridgewater, MA - Junior Katelyn Doherty's (Lynnfield, MA) walk-off RBI triple in the seventh inning lifted No. 3 seeded Salem State to a, 2-1, win over No. 4 seeded Framingham State in an elimination game of the 2008 MASCAC Softball Tournament hosted by Bridgewater State College.

The Vikings (20-20) will meet the loser of the Winner's Bracket championship game between top-seeded Bridgewater and second-seeded Westfield State. The Rams finish their 2008 campaign with a 16-23 record.

Salem State broke a scoreless tie on a solo home-run by sophomore centerfielder Jess Baird (Worcester, MA) in the bottom of the fifth. The dinger was her MASCAC-leading 10th of the season.

Framingham State responded in the top of the sixth when freshman leftfielder Andrea DiTerlizzi (Shrewsbury, MA) drove in junior third baseman Colleen Clancy (Lynn, MA) from second with an RBI single with two outs. Clancy led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch.

The Ram's had a golden opportunity to score the go-ahead runs in the top of the seventh with runners on second and third and one out, but Doherty ended the threat with two quick outs.

Salem State sophomore shortstop Katie Oram (Lynn, MA) led off the bottom of the seventh with a single, which set the stage for Doherty's walk-off triple.

Doherty improved to 13-7 with the win for the Vikings. She went the distance, pitching all seven innings, giving up a run while scattering five hits. Doherty finished with three strikeouts.

Framingham State senior Kelly Knox (Framingham, MA) absorbed the loss for the Rams. Knox hurled a complete game allowing two runs while yielding nine hits. She also tallied four strikeouts.

Baird and Erica Sonia (Lynn, MA- DP) each went 2-for-3 for the Vikings. Baird finished an RBI and a run scored.

For the Rams, DiTerlizzi went 1-for-3 with the lone RBI for Framingham State.