Softball Closes Regular Season with Sweep of Fitchburg State

Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University softball team closed the regular season this afternoon with a pair of victories over Fitchburg State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader at Maple Street Field.  The Rams took the opener 3-2 in nine innings and finished the sweep with a 5-1 triumph in game two.

With the victories, the Rams conclude the regular season 21-15 overall and 10-4 in the league, while the Falcons are now 13-19 overall and 6-8 in the MASCAC.

In the opener, the Rams got on the board in the bottom of the first.  Senior Megan Downing (Hanson, Mass.) tripled home sophomore Mycala Moody (North Attleboro, Mass.) who had reached on a fielder's choice.

The Rams doubled their lead in the bottom of the fifth.  Freshman Grace Caughey (Mendon, Mass.) delivered a bases loaded single plating sophomore Kirsten Dick (Tewksbury, Mass.) who had singled earlier in the inning.

The Falcons tied the game with two runs in the top sixth inning and kept the Rams off the board in their final two at bats to force extra innings.

After a scoreless seventh and eighth, the Rams tallied the deciding run in the ninth.  Moody tripled to lead off the frame and Downing reached on an error allowing Moody to score.

Junior Kelsi Gunarathne (Providence, RI) earned the victory in the circle for the Rams going nine innings allowing two earned runs on seven hits with 11 strikeouts.

In game two, the Rams got on the board in the bottom of the third with a pair of runs.  Caughey reached on an infield single with the bases loaded plating the first run and senior Bridget McGrail (Worcester, Mass.) single to center plating the second.

The Rams extended their lead with three runs in the bottom of the fourth.  Downing plated a run with a sacrifice fly to right and Caughey followed with a sacrifice fly as well.  McGrail added an RBI on a single to cap the Rams scoring.

The Falcons got on the board in the top of the fifth to account for the final run of the game.

Senior Jessica Pietersen (Norton, Mass.) earned the victory in game two going seven innings allowing one earned run on seven hits with two strikeouts.

The Rams and the Falcons will be back in action next week in the MASCAC Softball Championship Tournament which begins on Wednesday.