Softball Walks off With 6-5 Extra Inning Victory over Keene State
Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University softball team capitalized on an error in the bottom of the eighth inning to score the game-winning run and defeat Keene State College 6-5 this afternoon in non-conference action at Maple Street Field.
With the win, the Rams improve to 14-6 on the year, while Owls, who were on the field for the first time since March 17th, are now 6-7.
The Rams grabbed the lead in the bottom of the first inning. Junior Dayna Marchant (East Bridgewater, Mass.) tripled and came in to score on an infield single by freshman Mycala Moody (North Attleboro, Mass.).
Keene State grabbed the lead with three runs in the top of the second. Senior Aliza Guerrero (Fairfield, Conn.) doubled to left and then scored on a single to center by freshman Mikayla Pacy (Salem, NH). Krisen Boduch reached on an error on a sacrifice bunt allowing a run to score and Brittany DaMota (Monroe, Conn.) capped the scoring in the inning with an RBI single through the right side.
The Rams got a single run back in the bottom of the second. Senior Kylie Boyle (Billerica, Mass.) singled and advanced to third on an error in the Owls outfield. Sophomore Lauren Salisbury (Cranston, RI) singled to right scoring Boyle cutting the deficit to 3-2.
In the top of the third, Pacy reached on an RBI infield single with runners on second and third pushing the lead back to two runs for the visitors.
In the bottom of the frame sophomore Kayla Finacchiaro (Natick, Mass.) cut the deficit back to one (4-3) with an RBI single.
The Rams plated two runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 5-4 lead. The Rams had runners on second and third with one out for pinch hitter Bridget McGrail (Worcester, Mass.). McGrail delivered a single to right tying the game and moving a runner to third. Salisbury scored the go ahead run on a failed pickoff attempt that sailed into leftfield.
Keene State answered with the tying run in the top of the seventh. The Owls loaded the bases with one out and sophomore Molly St. Germain (Dover, NH) worked a bases loaded walk knotting the game at 5-5.
In the top of the eighth with the international tiebreaker in effect and a runner starting on second base, Senior Kayla Votto (Durham, Conn.) delivered a single to center. The runner from second attempted to score on the play but was thrown out at the plate by Moody.
In the bottom of the inning, a wild pitch moved the runner to third and a walk to Salisbury gave the Rams runners on the corners. Salisbury stole second. Freshman Kyla Johnson (North Attleboro, Mass.) reached on a fielder's choice as the runner was out at the plate. Johnson attempted to go second on the play, but the throw sailed into center field allowing Salisbury to score the game winning run.
Junior Jessica Pietersen (Norton, Mass.) earned the win in the circle going four innings in relief and allowing one earned run on two hits with two strikeouts. St. Germain took the loss for the Owls going five and two thirds and allowing four runs, two earned, on seven hits.
The Rams are back in action on Saturday when they host MCLA in a pair of MASCAC games beginning at 12:30 p.m., while Keene State is slated to host Western Connecticut on Saturday in a pair of Little East game's beginning at 1 p.m.