Softball Avoids Elimination with 3-1 Win over MCLA

Westfield, MA - Freshman shortstop Christy Ulak (Rehoboth, MA) cracked a two-run homer and senior Katelyn Pacheco (Acushnet, MA) pitched a four-hitter to lead Framingham State to a 3-1 victory over MCLA in the loser's bracket of the Massachusetts State College Athletics Conference (MASCAC) softball tournament.

Third seed Framingham State (14-26) advances to play the loser of the Saturday's 1:30 p.m. winner's bracket game between second seed Bridgewater State and top seed Westfield State. No. 4 seed MCLA is eliminated from the double-elimination tournament.

Ulak snapped a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth inning when she smacked her two-run circuit shot over the left field fence. Framingham tallied another run in the fifth on an RBI single by freshman Katie Donovan (Holden, MA).

MCLA scored a run on no hits in the top of the sixth. Amey Blackburn (Seekonk, MA) walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. She advanced to third on a sacrifice hit and scored on a groundout by Amber Coburn (Colrain, MA).

Pacheco, who threw an effective changeup, walked two and struck out nine. Kate Ouellette (Norwood, MA) collected two of MCLA's four hits.

Framingham finished with eight hits. Colleen Clancy (Lynn, MA) was 2-for-3.

Courtesy of Westfield State Sports Information.