Strong Pitching Lifts Softball to Sweep of Fitchburg State

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Framingham State University softball team swept a pair of games on the road with Fitchburg State this afternoon, taking the opener 9-0 and finishing the sweep with a 5-0 victory in game two in MASCAC action at Coolidge Park.

Framingham State used a nine run, ten hit attack in game one to post their fifth league victory of the season. Junior Christy Ulak (Rehoboth, Mass.) led the Rams offensively, hitting 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBI, while sophomore Taylor Ezold (Westfield, Mass.) finished 2-for-5 with a three-bagger, one run scored and a pair of RBI. Senior Andrea DiTerlizzi (Shrewsbury, Mass.) was also solid, chipping in with a two run single.

Framingham State jumped out to 2-0 in the opening frame, using a run scoring single from sophomore Kendra Fisher (Abington, Mass.) and RBI groundout from junior Alyssa Shea (Lakeville, Mass.). The Rams doubled their lead in the second inning on DiTerlizzi's two-run single before making it 6-0 in the sixth on a two run base hit by Ezold. Framingham State capped its scoring with three runs in the seventh, keyed by a two run triple off the bat of Ulak. 

In the circle, sophomore Yaya Faria (Acton, Mass.) earned the win for the Rams, allowing just six hits in the complete game shutout. Senior Nicole Monroe (Pepperell, Mass.) suffered the loss for the Falcons, yielding six runs (three earned) on six hits, while striking out five.

Monroe also paced the Falcons offensively, going 1-for-2 with a double, while junior Kelly Cummings (Natick, Mass./Natick) and sophomore Alycia McGrail (N. Brookfield, Mass./N. Brookfield) chipped in with one hit a piece.

In the nightcap, Framingham State received another solid pitching performance from junior Alysia Morrissette (Ware, Mass.), who tossed the first five innings for the Rams. Morrissette led Framingham State to its second consecutive shutout, allowing just two hits through five innings of work.

After three scoreless innings of play, the Rams grabbed a 3-0 advantage in the top of the fourth frame, posting three hits and taking advantage of a costly Falcon miscue. Shea provided the big blast for Framingham State with a triple to centerfield, while freshman Kim Danish (Milford, Mass.) collected an RBI with a sacrifice fly.

Framingham State added single runs in the sixth and seventh innings (5-0) to cap its scoring and secure its sixth MASCAC victory. Junior Allison Cousins (Leominster, Mass.) suffered the loss in the circle for Fitchburg State, allowing four earned runs on five hits while striking out a pair and walking one.

McGrail finished with a pair of singles to lead Fitchburg State offensively, while sophomore Jill Moses (Dedham, Mass.) added a base hit.

Fitchburg State (13-18, 5-5 MASCAC) returns to action Tuesday as it hosts Worcester State at 3 p.m. Framingham State (10-18, 6-4 MASCAC) will host UMass-Dartmouth on Monday at 3:30 p.m.