Softball Eliminated from MASCAC Tournament

Westfield, MA - Westfield State jumped out to a 5-1 second-inning lead and held on for a 5-4 victory over Framingham State to advance to the championship game of the Massachusetts State College Athletics Conference (MASCAC) softball tournament.

The Owls, 23-13, face rival Bridgewater State in the title tilt, scheduled for Sunday, May 3, at noon at Westfield State College. Bridgewater is unbeaten in the double-elimination format after defeating Westfield, 6-4, earlier on Saturday. Westfield would have to defeat Bridgewater twice on Sunday to capture the MASCAC championship and an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III tournament.

Framingham State jumped out to a 1-0 lead by scoring an unearned run in the first inning. Westfield tied the score in the home half of the first on an RBI single by Katie Gorman (Feeding Hills, MA).

The Owls erupted for four runs on six hits in the second inning, knocking Framingham freshman pitcher Alysia Morrissette (Ware, MA) from the game.  Morrissette gave up five earned runs on eight hits in just two innings of work.

The key hits in Westfield's four-run second were an RBI triple by Lindsay Jardin (Assonet), an RBI double by Kim Brennan (Douglas, MA) and a run-scoring single from Alicia Gardner (Athol).

Framingham scored a run in the third inning on a throwing error on a failed pickoff attempt at third base, and closed to within two, 5-3, in the fifth on a solo home run by Colleen Clancy (Lynn, MA).

The Rams scored a run in the sixth inning on an RBI single by Andrea DeTirlizzi (Shrewsbury, MA) and had the bases loaded with one out. But the huge scoring threat was thwarted when Westfield relief pitcher Chelsea Sylvia struck out the dangerous Katie Donovan (Holden, MA) swinging on a changeup and got Katelyn Pacheco to pop up to Gorman at first base on a 3-1 pitch.

Framingham threatened to score again in its final at bat with a runner in scoring position and one out. But Sylvia struck out two straight batters, including a called third strike on a changeup.

Senior Casey Riddell (Orange, MA) pitched five and a third innings to notch the victory, with Sylvia earning her first save this season. Westfield pitchers did not issue a walk.

Framingham out-hit Westfield, 13-10. Jardin was 2 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI triple and Brennan was 2 for 4 with an RBI double.

Clancy was 4 for 4 with a homer, double and two singles. DiTerlizzi and Alyssa Shea (Lakeville, MA) were both 2 for 4.

Courtesy of Westfield State Sports Information.