Salem State Picks Up 7-5 Win Over Softball - Game 2 To Be Played Tomorrow

Framingham, Mass. — The Salem State College softball team capitalized on two Framingham State College fielding miscues in the top of the seventh inning to score two unearned runs and pick up a 7-5 win over the host Rams in one game of a Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) softball doubleheader.  The second game of the day was halted in the second inning with the Rams leading 3-0 due to the weather and field conditions and will be replayed tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. at Framingham. 

With the win, the Vikings improve to 8-3 in the MASCAC and 26-7-1 overall, while the Rams fall to 13-18 overall and 7-4 in the conference.

In a back-and-forth game, the Rams took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning as freshman second baseman Taylor Ezold (Westfield, Mass.) knocked a two run homerun to center plating sophomore Alyssa Shea (Lakeville, Mass.), who had reached base on a walk.

The Rams lead was short lived as the Vikings scored three in the top of the third to take their first lead of the game.  Outfielder Sarah Brown (North Attleboro, Mass.) singled up the middle and came around to score on a two run blast to center by catcher Amanda Scola (Leominster, Mass.).  Jess Baird (Worcester, Mass.) followed with a blast to center of her own giving the Vikings a 3-2 lead.

The Rams once again answered with two runs in the bottom of the third as pitcher Andrew DiTerlizzi (Shrewsbury, Mass.) scored on a wild pitch and Kendra Fisher (Abington, Mass.) scored on an error in the Vikings outfield.

Both teams added single runs in the fifth and the Vikings added another in the sixth to send the game to the seventh knotted at 5-5. 

In the top of the seventh, Scola walked and advanced to second on a hit up the middle by Baird.  Michelle Grifoni (Peabody, Mass.) followed with a grounder that looked like a double play ball that was going to get the Rams out of the inning.  Instead the Rams recorded the out at second and the throw to first sailed out of play allowing Scola to scamper home with the winning run.  Grifoni scored on pinch hitter Kerri Sullivan’s RBI single (New Marlborough, Mass.) giving the Vikings a two run cushion.

Salem State pitcher Katelynn Fanning (East Boston, Mass.) retired the first batter of the inning before surrendering a walk to DiTerlizzi, but was able to get the next two batters to fly out and end the game.  Fanning picked up the win going seven innings allowing five runs, two earned, on three hits while striking out nine.

DiTerllizi ended up with no decision as she went six innings surrendering five runs, all earned, on seven hits with two strikeouts.  Sophomore Alysia Morrissette (Ware, Mass.) picked up the loss allowing two unearned runs in one inning of work.