UMass Boston Takes Two from Softball
Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University softball teams dropped a pair of games this afternoon to the University of Massachusetts Boston in a non-conference doubleheader at Farley Field. The Beacons came from behind to win the first game 3-2 before shutting out the Rams, 5-0, in the nightcap.
With the pair of victories the Beacons improve to 8-18 on the year, while the Rams slide to 5-19 on the season.
In the opener, the Rams staked themselves a 2-0 lead with single runs in the second and third innings. Freshman Jess Anthony (Stoneham, Mass.) and junior Kyle Fortin (Candia, NH) hit back-to-back one out singles in the second and advanced on a Beacon fielding error. After an out, junior Alyssa Begin's (Salem, Mass.) ball to third was misplayed allowing Anthony to score the game's first run.
In the third, sophomore Tiffany Agostini (Rehoboth, Mass.) ripped a single to center scoring freshman Helen Falzone (Ashland, Mass.), who had walked to lead off the inning.
The Beacons countered with runs in the fourth and fifth tie the game at 2-all. Sophomore Samantha Hemstock (Northford, Conn.) singled to lead off the fourth and scored from third when freshman Kelsey Cruse (Worcester, Mass.) was thrown out trying to steal second.
In the fifth, the Beacons capitalized on a Framingham State error as senior Sue Killilea (Abington, Mass.) reached on a single and scored on a botched fielder's choice by the Rams
The game would remain deadlocked until UMass Boston pushed across the winning run in the top of the seventh. Junior Toni Scola (Worcester, Mass.) singled and came around to score on a triple to center by Killilea.
Agostini went 3-for-3 for the Rams in the opener, while Killilea, Hemstock and junior Lyndsey Capra (Lowell, Mass.) all picked up two hits for the Beacons.
In the nightcap, freshman Emily Gray (New Bedford, Mass.) recorded the complete game victory in the circle for the Beacons. Gray allowed just seven hits to the Rams with five strikeouts and a walk.
The Beacons scored unearned runs in the first and second innings to take the early and that would be all they would need as Gray held the Rams at bay. In the first Killilea singled and after an error allowed her to get to third base scored on an RBI ground out by Taryn Asta (Marshfield, Mass.).
In the second, Capra led off the inning with a base hit and stole second. She came around to score on an error in the Rams infield.
UMass Boston added a run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Hemstock and a pair of runs in the seventh on a two RBI single by Erika Vecchiet (Pequannock, NJ) to reach the final score.
Killilea and Asta had two hits apiece for the Rams, while Falzone was the lone Rams with multiple hits in the second game.
The Rams return to MASCAC action on Saturday when they entertain Worcester State for a pair of games beginning at 1 p.m., while Beacons resume LEC play on Saturday when they host UMass Dartmouth at 1 p.m.