Donovan and Ulak Lift Softball to 9-8 Win Over WSC - Rams Advance in MASCAC Tournament
Westfield, Mass. - Sophomore classmates Christy Ulak (Rehoboth,
Mass.) and Katie Donovan (Holden, Mass.) each smashed two-run
homers in a seven-run uprising in the sixth inning to lift the
fourth seed Framingham State College softball team to a 9-8 victory
over third seed Worcester State in the losers bracket of the MASCAC
Softball tournament this afternoon at Westfield State's Alumni
Field.
The Rams (17-21) will play second seed Salem State in the final
game of the semifinals later this afternoon to determine who will
face top-seeded Westfield State in tomorrow's championship game.
The Owls defeated the Vikings 4-1 in the winner’s bracket
game.
With the Rams trailing 6-2 entering the top of the sixth, Worcester
State junior Michaella Mahoney (Shrewsbury, Mass.) fanned the
lead-off batter, but surrendered a walk to junior Andrea DiTerlizzi
(Shrewsbury, Mass.) setting the table for Donovan’s two run
shot to left. Junior Kelly Reardon (Groveland, Mass.) tripled
to center before Mahoney struck out the number nine hitter to put
two outs on the board, but Mahoney would not retire another batter
before leaving the circle.
Senior Megan Dumas (Holden, Mass.) singled to drive in Reardon and
then she moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Junior Kasey
Phipps (Westford, Mass.) plated Dumas for the go ahead run driving
Mahoney from the game and setting the stage for Ulak’s
two-run homerun to center off of sophomore reliever Marcy Rumrill
(Orange, Mass.).
The Rams would score a final run before the inning would be over as
freshman Taylor Ezold (Westfield, Mass.) followed the homer with a
double. On the next play, Ezold reached third on a throwing error
and then scored as the first baseman’s throw home sailed
high. Rumrill though would end the seventh with a punch out.
Worcester State would get back to within a run of the lead in the
bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by sophomore Erica Cordio
(Leominster, Mass.) and a run scoring double by classmate Jamie
Jacobs (Billerica, Mass.). But, the Lancers would leave the tying
and go-ahead runs stranded as sophomore starting pitcher Alysia
Morrissette (Ware, Mass.) induced a ground-out to end the
inning.
After the Rams failed to score in the top of the seventh,
Morrissette came back out into the circle to hurl a perfect frame
to bounce WSC from the tournament.
The Blue and Gold went up 2-0 in the bottom of the first as they
took advantage of a pair of walks and a wild pitch when junior
Kaitlyn Laflash (Northbridge, Mass.) drove in a pair.
Framingham State eventually responded in the top of the fourth as
DiTerlizzi tallied a run-producing double and Donovan tacked on an
RBI single.
The Lancers used a four-run bottom of the fourth to go up 6-2 on an
RBI hit by sophomore Ashley Howe (Winchendon, MA) and a three-run
homer by Cordio.
Mahoney (13-9) hurled 5 2/3 innings allowing seven earned runs on
11 hits while she walked and struck out a pair of batters.
Morrissette (9-13) went the distance as she yielded eight runs
(five earned) on nine hits as she walked three and fanned a
pair.
The Rams out hit Worcester State 14-9 as both squads made a
combined seven miscues.
Donovan went 3-for-4 with three RBI while Dumas, Phipps and
DiTerlizzi each notched a pair of hits for Framingham State. Cordio
and Jacobs each went 2-for-3 as Cordio finished the day with three
runs and four RBIs.