Kelsi Gunarathne
Kelsi Gunarathne

Late Rally Lifts Softball to Game Two Victory in Split with Babson

Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University softball team tallied two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and went on to win game two 3-1 team earn a split of a non-conference doubleheader this afternoon with Babson College at Maple Street Field.  The Beavers were victorious 9-1 in the opener.

With the split, the Rams are now 12-12 on the year, while the Beavers move to 15-8.

The Beavers got on the board in the top of the first of the opener.  Junior Annie Quine reached on a fielder's choice and came around to score on a Rams error.

Babson extended their lead to 4-0 with three runs in the second inning.  Freshman Jamie Hoffman doubled to right and moved to third on a ground out.  Sophomore Kayla Schinik followed with an RBI double to left and then scored on a double by senior Ali Reilly.  Junior Josephine Mares reached on a Ram error allowing the final run of the frame to cross the plate.

Babson added single runs in the top of the fourth on one of the Rams eight errors in the game and a single run in the fifth on an RBI single off the bat of Jacqueline Paul.

The Rams got on the board in the bottom of the frame after loading the bases on a single from freshman Camille Desrochers (Westford, Mass.), an error and a walk.  After an out, senior Anna Dziok (Southampton, Mass.) reached on a fielder's choice allowing Desrochers to score from third.

Babson tacked on three more runs in the top of the seventh to reach the final margin.

Reilly earned the win in the circle for the Beavers going seven innings and allowing one unearned run on seven hits with seven strikeouts.

Senior Jessica Pietersen (Norton, Mass.) took the loss for the rams going three and a third and allowing five runs, three earned on four hits.

In game two, the Rams grabbed a 1-0 lead in their first at bat of the contest.  Senior Dayna Marchant (East Bridgewater, Mass.) doubled down the right field line and moved to third on a single from senior Megan Downing (Hanson, Mass.).  Dziok reached on a fielder's choice as the Beavers were able to get Marchant at the plate.  Senior Bridget McGrail (Worcester, Mass.) followed with a single through the left side scoring Downing from second.

The Beavers tied the game in top of the third.  Schinik reached on a bunt single and moved to second on a ground out.  After another out, Samantha Smith was hit by a pitch and Quine followed with a single to left scoring Schinik.

The game remained tied at 1-1 until the bottom of the fifth.  Desrochers led off the inning with a single and Marchant reached on an error putting runners on second and third with no outs.  Sophomore Mycala Moody (North Attleboro, Mass.) was intentionally walked to load the bases for Downing who delivered a two RBI single to right.  Babson was able to get out of the inning without any further damage.

Framingham State starting pitcher Kelsi Gunarathne (Providence, RI) allowed a single in the top of the sixth and retired the Beavers in order in the top of the seventh to preserve the victory.

Gunarathne earned her sixth victory of the season in the circle going seven innings and allowing one earned run on six hits with a strikeout.

Sophomore Katie Gademsky took the loss for the visitors going four innings and allowing two earned runs on six hits.

Marchant finished the day three-for-seven with a triple and double.  The triple is the 15th on Marchant's career and ties the FSU career triple record which was set by former Ram Christina Sullivan who wore the black and gold from 2004-07.

The Rams are back in action on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Worcester State for a MASCAC doubleheader at 12 p.m., while the Beavers travel to NEWMAC foe Wheaton College on Friday for a pair of games beginning at 3 p.m.