Donovan's Sacrifice Fly Lifts Softball to 6-5 Win over Westfield and Split of MASCAC Doubleheader
Westfield, Mass. – Westfield State University and Framingham State University split a MASCAC softball doubleheader on Saturday, April 16.
Powered by three RBI apiece from Brittany Dussault and Cassy Jouannet, the Owls overcame an early 4-3 deficit to post a 9-5 victory in the opener. In the second game, the Rams rallied from a 5-1 deficit to defeat Westfield, 6-5 in nine innings. Katie Donovan – who had four RBI in the opener – delivered the game-winning blow in the nightcap with a sacrifice fly.
In the opener, Westfield took a 3-0 lead after two innings but Framingham scored four unearned runs in the top of the third with two outs and the bases empty.
Two walks and an infield error loaded the sacks and Donovan cleared them with a double to centerfield. Christy Ulak plated Donovan with an RBI double down the left field line.
But Westfield also scored four runs with two outs and the bases empty in the bottom of the third to take a 7-4 lead. The Owls belted five hits with two outs, with the big blows a two-run single by Dussault, a run scoring triple from Jouannet and an RBI single by Bri Eichstaedt.
The Owls tacked on two more runs in the fifth. Kerin DeGirolamo doubled to left field and Dussault blasted a towering shot off the top of the left field fence for a triple. Jouannet scored Dussault with a bunt single down the first base line.
Westfield outhit Framingham, 13-7. Dussault was 3 for 3 with three RBI and three runs scored and DeGirolamo was 3 for 3 with three runs scored. Jouannet was 2 for 2 with three RBI, while Kristyn Carroll chipped in with a triple.
Donovan was 2 for 3 with two doubles and four RBI and Alyssa Shea was 2 for 3 with two doubles.
Winning pitcher Madeline Tomich allowed seven hits, one earned run and five walks and struck out six.
In the second game, the teams again exchanged four-run innings. The Owls took an early 1-0 lead on a Eichstaedt's solo homer down the left field line. The Rams knotted the score with a run in the third when Adriana Faria was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Westfield scored four runs in the fourth to take a 5-1 lead. Eichstaedt muscled a leadoff triple down the right field line and scored on DeGirolamo's sharp single to left field. Dussault blasted her second triple of the day to score DiGirolamo and Carroll clubbed the Owls' third three bagger of the inning to drive in two runs.
But the Rams responded with four runs in the top of the fifth, with the game-tying run scoring on a wild pitch. Key hits were an RBI triple by Faria and an RBI double by Ulak.
Westfield had two major scoring threats in its final five at bats. In the sixth the Owls loaded the bases with one out but a strikeout and groundout ended the threat.
In the bottom of the eighth, Courtney Begin blasted a one-out triple over right fielder's head, but an infield popup and a strikeout ended the inning.
Framingham scored the winning run in the top of the ninth when Shea tripled to deep right field with one out and easily scored on Donovan's sacrifice fly.
Westfield outhit Framingham, 9-8. No player had more than one hit for the Rams. Faria – who went the distance for the pitching victory – had two RBI.
Courtney Begin was 3 for 4 for the Owls and DeGirolamo was 2 for 5. Eichstaedt was 2 for 4 with a triple, double and two runs scored.
Faria walked four and struck out eight. Tomich was the losing pitcher in relief of Kerry Alcott, who pitched into the fifth inning and allowed five runs, seven hits and four walks.
The Rams return to action on Monday when they host Worcester State in a pair of MASCAC games.
Release courtesy of Westfield State Sports Information.