Softball Drops Two at Salem State

Salem, Mass. – Pitcher Lauren DiCredico (Tewksbury, MA) started both ends of a doubleheader and Katelynn Fanning (East Boston, MA) earned a win and a save to help lead the Salem State Lady Vikings to a sweep of conference rival Framingham State by scores of  3-2 and 5-1 at Alumni Field on Tuesday afternoon.

With the victories in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) matchup, Salem State moves into third place with a 7-5 conference record and 22-16 overall mark, while Framingham State falls to fourth place at 6-6 in the MASCAC and 10-20 overall.

DiCredico gave up two earned runs on four hits with one strikeout in 5.1 innings of work in the first game before leaving with the game tied 2-2. Fanning came on in relief and earned the win in the eighth inning striking out six and allowing one hit in 2.2 innings of work.

Sophomore Yaya Faria (Acton, MA) went the distance for Framingham State and took the loss giving up three runs -one earned - with nine strikeouts.

Salem State scored a pair of runs in the first inning. With two runners in scoring position and two outs Paige Flemming (Methuen, MA) hit a hard groundball to the shortstop that was fielded cleanly but the throw went over the head of the first baseman. Michelle Grifoni (Peabody, MA) and Christina Cipriani (Peabody, MA) crossed the plate giving the Vikings an early two-run lead.

The game remained tight with both teams making spectacular plays in the field. Most notably was a strike out-throw out double play by the Rams in the fifth inning. Faria struck out Cipriani and catcher Katie Donovan (Holden, MA) gunned down Grifoni on her attempt to steal second base.

Framingham State sophomore Kendra Fisher (Abington, MA) tied the game in the top of the sixth inning with a two-run homer over the left field fence that scored Taylor Ezold (Westfield, MA).

Grifoni led off the eighth inning with a ground-rule double that hopped the fence in deep center. Cipriani followed with a soft grounder up the third base line but the throw was off target to first base, which allowed Grifoni to score the game-winning run.

In the second game DiCredico held Framingham scoreless over four innings allowing two hits and striking out five. Fanning came on in relief and earned the three inning save. Fanning gave up one run on two hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Junior Alysia Morrissette (Ware, MA) took the loss for the Rams in the circle.

In the third inning Cipriani hit a one-out triple to drive in Grifoni and Michelle Flower (Reading, MA) to give the Vikings the 2-0 lead.

Three insurance runs were added in the fourth inning. Gabbie Vitale (Danvers, MA) scored on a throwing error by the shortstop. Ashley Aldred (Arlington, MA) doubled in Jenna Lentine (Methuen, MA) and Lauren Garchinsky (Saugus, MA) for the 5-0 advantage.

Freshman Kim Danish (Milford, MA) knocked in Alyssa Shea (Lakeville, MA) for the lone Framingham run in the seventh.

Salem State University will end the regular season against Bridgewater State University in a doubleheader on Saturday at noon. The Framingham State University Rams will travel to take on Wheaton College in a doubleheader on Thursday afternoon in Norton.

Release courtesy of SSU Sports Information.