Softball Secures Top Seed in MASCAC Tournament & at least a Share of MASCAC Regular Season Title in Split with Salem State
Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University softball team secured at least a share of the 2017 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) softball title and the top seed in next week's MASCAC Tournament with a 3-0 victory over Salem State University in the opener of a MASCAC doubleheader this afternoon at Maple Street Field. The Vikings rebounded for a 4-1 triumph in the nightcap handing the Rams their first conference loss on the year.
With the split, the Rams improve to 25-9 on the year and 11-1 in the MASCAC. The Rams, who were ranked sixth in New England in this week's NCAA Division III Regional Rankings, capture their first MASCAC regular season crown.
The Vikings are now 19-15 on the season and 7-5 in the conference.
The Rams received a complete game shutout from sophomore Kelsi Gunarathne (North Providence, RI) in the opener. Gunarathne recorded her sixth shutout of the season allowing just three hits over seven innings with five walks and five strikeouts.
The Rams got on the board first in the bottom of the fourth inning. Junior Anna Dziok (Southampton, Mass.) singled and senior Kyle Boyle (Billerica, Mass.) followed with a base hit giving the Rams runners on first and second and two outs. Junior Megan Downing (Hanson, Mass.) followed with an RBI single scoring Dziok with the only run the Rams would need.
The Rams tacked on two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth on a single and error on a ball to right by Boyle and a sacrifice fly from Downing.
Junior Meghan Black (Winchendon, Mass.) took the loss for the Vikings going six innings and allowing three runs, two earned, on 10 hits with a strikeout and no walks.
Junior Marisa Sanchez (Framingham, Mass.) accounted for two of the Vikings three hits in the game. Boyle, Dziok and junior Dayna Marchant (East Bridgewater, Mass.) recorded two hits apiece for the Rams in the opener.
In game two, the Vikings scored three runs in the top of the first and never looked back as they handed the Rams their first conference loss of the year. Bobbie Dee Regan (Lynn, Mass.) plated the Vikings first run on an RBI single. Ivy Donoldi (Medfield, Mass.) and Samantha Holey (Lynn, Mass.) followed with RBI base hits for the 3-0 advantage.
The Vikings added a single run in the top of the second on an RBI fielder's choice pushing the lead to 4-0.
Senior Marissa Flynn (Marlborough, Mass.) plated the Rams lone run in the game on a sacrifice fly to left in the bottom of the fifth.
Ileish Burney (Bristol, Conn.) earned the win for the visitors in the circle going seven innings and allowing one earned run on four hits with four strikeouts.
Junior Jessica Pietersen (Norton, Mass.) took the loss for the Rams going seven innings and allowing four runs, one earned, on eight hits with three strikeouts.
The Rams are back in action on Saturday when they host Bridgewater State on Senior Day for a pair of MASCAC contests beginning at 1 p.m., while the Vikings host Fitchburg State also on Saturday in a MASCAC doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.