Softball Sweeps New England College 2-0 and 11-3
Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader this afternoon with New England College at Maple Street Field. The Rams took the opener by a score of 2-0 before coming from behind for an 11-3 five inning victory in the nightcap.
With the wins, the Rams even their season mark at 6-6, while the Pilgrims are now 6-14 on the season.
The Rams got on the board first in the opener with a run in the bottom of the first. Senior Dayna Marchant (East Bridgewater, Mass.) led off the frame with a single, stole second and scored when the throw sailed into the outfield.
The Rams added to the lead with a run in the bottom of the third. Sophomore Kirsten Dick (Tewksbury, Mass.) walked and was sacrificed to second by junior Lauren Salisbury (Cranston, RI). Dick came around to score from second on a single by Marchant.
Junior Kelsi Gunarathne (Providence, RI) earned the victory in the opener and improves to 3-3 on the year. Gunarathne went seven innings and allowed no runs on two hits with a walk and six strikeouts.
Taylor Barbour took the loss for the Pilgrims going six innings and allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
Marchant went two-for-three in the opener with a run scored and an RBI for the Rams, while freshman Rachel Senechal and Barbour recorded a single hit apiece for the Pilgrims.
In game two, the Pilgrims went ahead 2-0 with single runs in the top of the first and third, but the Rams countered with 11 runs over the final three innings to record the run-rule victory.
In the top of the first, Senechal walked and stole second. She moved to third on an out and came around to score when freshman Destiny Helmedach grounded out.
In the third, Helmedach singled home Senechal who has reached earlier in the inning on a basehit.
The Rams tied the game and took the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the third. Sophomore Mycala Moody (North Attleboro, Mass.) doubled with two outs and scored on a double by senior Megan Downing (Hanson, Mass.). Classmate Bridget McGrail (Worcester, Mass.) followed with an RBI single scoring downing. Junior Kayla Finacchiaro (Natick, Mass.) reached on an error allowing pinch runner Eleanor Callery (Lowell, Mass.) to score.
The Rams tacked on six more in the bottom of the fourth extending their lead to 9-2. Senior Anna Dziok (Southampton, Mass.) doubled home a run and Dick reached on a bunt single allowing Dziok to score. Downing singled to center driving in another run, while Finacchiaro reached on an error again allowing a run to score from third. Freshman Grace Caughey (Mendon, Mass.) delivered an RBI single for the final run of the frame.
The Pilgrims got a run back in top of the fifth on an RBI triple from freshman Yesenia Dominguez, but the Rams added two more in the bottom of the inning to finish the game.
Caughey earned the victory in the circle for the Rams going five innings and allowing three earned runs on four hits with two walks and a strikeout.
The Rams are back in action on Wednesday when they host Johnson & Wales in a doubleheader at 3 p.m., while the Pilgrims travel to Castleton on April 3rd for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.