Softball Walks Off with 1-0 Victory in Opener and Complete Sweep of NEC with 7-3 Win in Game 2
Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University softball team walked off with a 1-0 win in the opening game of a non-conference doubleheader this afternoon against New England College before plating five runs in the bottom of the second en route to a 7-3 victory in game two to secure the sweep at Maple Street Field.
With the pair of victories, the Rams improve to 9-5 on the year, while New England College is now 4-10.
In the opener, both teams received lead off doubles and saw runners in scoring position, but neither team was able to push across a run sending the game to seventh scoreless.
In the top of the seventh, Alexa Scribner (Falmouth, Mass.) led off the inning with a bunt single and stole second and third with no outs. A walk put runners on the corners and a second walk loaded the bases for the Pilgrims. Framingham State's Kelsi Gunarathne (North Providence, RI) induced a bouncer back to the mound for a 1-2-3 double play and recorded a strikeout to end the threat.
In the top of the frame, junior Dayna Marchant (East Bridgewater, Mass.) led off the inning with a walk and senior Marissa Flynn (Marlborough, Mass.) followed with a game-winning triple to deep right to secure the victory.
Gunarathne improved to 7-1 on the year with the win. She went seven scoreless innings and allowed just four hits with eight strikeouts and seven walks. Senior Debra Mazzeo (Fitchburg, Mass.) took the loss for the Pilgrims going six and a third and allowing one earned run on seven hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
In game two, the Rams plated five runs in the bottom of the second to take control of the game. Junior Anna Dziok (Southampton, Mass.) led off the inning with a solo homerun to left. Freshman Kyla Johnson (North Attleboro, Mass.) plated a run with a double to center and Marchant scored a pair with a triple to left. Senior Kylie Boyle (Billerica, Mass.) drove in the final run of the inning on a single to center.
The Rams added two more in the bottom of the fifth on a pinch hit, two RBI single from junior Bridget McGrail (Worcester, Mass.).
New England College plated a run in the top of the sixth on an RBI ground out from sophomore Christine McNeil (Pawcatuck, Conn.) and two in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI ground out and error by Chanel Welch (Seabrook, NH).
Junior Jessica Pietersen (Norton, Mass.) earned the game two victory going seven innings and allowing three runs, one earned, on six hits with two strikeouts. Mazzeo took the loss going five innings and allowing seven runs on 12 hits.
The Rams take to the road on Thursday with a non-conference doubleheader at Johnson & Wales at 4 p.m., while the New England College is slated to play Lasell on March 30th at 3 p.m.