Softball Splits Two at Bridgewater State

Bridgewater, Mass. — Bridgewater State University and Framingham State University split a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) softball doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at Alumni Park in Bridgewater.  The visiting Rams won the first game, 9-5, while Bridgewater earned the split with a 9-1 six-inning victory in game two.

The doubleheader marked the conference opener for both teams.  Bridgewater is now 9-11 on the season (1-1 MASCAC) while Framingham is 3-13 overall (1-1 MASCAC).

In the opener, Framingham scored five runs in the sixth and four more in the seventh to erase a 2-0 deficit as the Rams went on to win 9-5.

Sophomore Yaya Faria (Acton, Mass.) went the distance in the circle for the Rams to earn the victory.  Faria (2-3) gave up five runs on eight hits with three walks and six strikeouts.  She also went 2-for-3 at the plate with two doubles and two RBI.

Junior Tracey Sanko (Windsor, Ct.) had a no-hitter going for the Bears through the first five innings as the hosts led 2-0 going into the sixth.  Bridgewater scored a run in the first on a run-scoring single by junior Michaela Ferreira (Fall River, Mass.) and another in the third on an RBI bunt single from sophomore Jennifer Shaw (Brockton, Mass.).

In the sixth, Framingham sophomore Taylor Ezold (Westfield, Mass.) rapped an RBI single with runners at second and third to cut the deficit to 2-1.  After Ezold stole second, senior Andrea DiTerlizzi (Shrewsbury, Mass.) followed with an RBI fielder's choice grounder as the Bears were unable to cut down the run at the plate.  Bridgewater compounded the mistake by throwing the ball away allowing Ezold to come around to score the go-ahead run.  Faria made it 4-2 as she doubled in DiTerlizzi, and Shea capped of the frame with an RBI single.

Ezold connected for a three-run homer in the seventh and DiTerlizzi and Faria roped back-to-back doubles to give the Rams a 9-2 lead. Sanko hit a solo blast for the Bears in the bottom half of the inning and Shaw banged out a two-run shot to cap off the scoring.

Ezold finished 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBI, while sophomore Kendra Fisher (Abington, Mass.) singled twice in three at bats and scored a pair of runs.

Senior Heather McPherson (Mansfield, Mass.) went 2-for-3 at plate for the Bears in the opener while junior Stephanie Burns (North Attleboro, Mass.) was 1-for-2 with two walks and three runs scored.
In game two, Shaw homered twice and doubled as she went 3-for-4 with six runs batted in and three runs scored.

Shaw belted a three-run homer in the bottom of the first to stake the Bears to the early lead.  Bridgewater would add another run in the frame as Ferreira tripled and scored on an RBI single by sophomore Brianna Strecker (Waterford, Ct.).

The Bears would tack on three more runs in the second as Sanko led off with a double and, one out later, came around to score on Shaw's RBI two-bagger.  After an out, Strecker hit a two-run blast to give BSU the 7-0 lead.

Sophomore Meghan Dunn (Colchester, Ct.) gave up just one unearned run in the complete game effort to post her sixth win of the season.  Dunn (6-2) allowed just two hits, walked one and struck out five.

Framingham broke up Dunn's shutout bid in the fifth as junior Alyssa Shea (Lakeville, Mass.) singled and advanced all the way to third on an outfield fielding error.  Shea would come around to score on a wild pitch.

Shaw would end the game in the bottom of the sixth as she smacked her second dinger of the game and third of the afternoon, a two-run shot over the left-center field fence, to give the Bears the 9-1 win.

Sanko went 2-for-3 with a couple of runs scored in game two, while Strecker finished 2-for-3 with a run and three RBI.


Shaw finished 5-for-8 in the twinbill with three home runs, a double, four runs scored and nine RBI.  She was 2-for-4 in game two with a run and three runs batted in.

Bridgewater will host a non-conference doubleheader with Rhode Island College on Tuesday starting at 3 p.m.  Framingham travels to Wellesley College on Wednesday at 3 p.m. for a pair of games with the Blue.

Release courtesy of BSU Sports Information.