Softball Knocks Salem off Tie Atop MASCAC Standings with a Pair of Victories
Salem, Mass. – The Framingham State University Rams took two from the Salem State University Vikings in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) softball action on Wednesday afternoon at Alumni Field.
The wins improve Framingham State's record to 9-25 on the year and 6-6 in conference, while Salem State slips to 18-12 overall and 7-5 in the MASCAC.
Senior Yaya Faria (Acton, Mass.) pitched a complete-game to earn her sixth win of the year in game one. Faria went seven innings, and allowed just two earned runs on only two hits with three strikeouts.
Alyssa Bryan (Stoneham, Mass.) put Salem State on top 1-0 in the first when she led off with a walk and after a sacrifice and passed ball, came home to score on a steal.
The Vikings increased their lead to 2-0 in the third when Lauren Garchinsky(Saugus, MA) knocked in Bryan with an RBI single.
Bryan shutdown the Framingham State offense until the fourth when the Rams plated two runs to tie the game. Sophomores Shelby Phillips (Taunton, Mass.) and Tiffany Agostini (Rehoboth, Mass.) led off the top of the frame with back-to-back singles. A passed ball and walk loaded the bases. Junior Kyle Fortin (Candia, NH) produced the first run with an RBI single and freshman Kourtney Kacian (Gardner, Mass.) followed with a walk and the game was tied 2-2.
The Rams added another run in the fifth on an RBI single by senior Taylor Ezold (Westfield, Mass.), but the Vikings countered with a run in the sixth when Sarra Bergeron (Methuen, Mass.) walked and scored on a passed ball and wild pitch.
The Rams scored the go-ahead runs in the seventh after Phillips doubled and came home on an error and pinch-runner Jess Morrissey (Barre, Mass.) scored on a passed ball with the bases loaded.
Faria retired the Vikings in order in the seventh to preserve the 5-3 victory.
Bryan pitched a complete game, allowing eight hits and three earned runs with eight strikeouts for Salem State.
In game two, freshman Alex Ferri (Winthrop, Mass.) pitched a complete-game four hit shutout to lead the Rams to a 3-0 win. Ferri struck out three and out-dueled Salem State starter Brittany Howe (Winchendon, Mass.), who went four and one third innings allowing three runs on just two hits, but was hurt by two hit batters.
The Rams scored the only runs of the game in the top of the fifth. Freshman Jess Anthony (Stoneham, Mass.) was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Junior Alyssa Begin (Salem, Mass.) singled and both runner s advanced on a groundout. Bryan relieved Howe for the Vikings after another hit batter, but Fortin doubled home two for Framingham State to give the Rams a 3-0 lead.
Salem State threatened in the seventh when Christina Cipriani (Peabody, Mass.) walked and Cara Crowley (Lynn, Mass.) singled, but Ferri retired the next two batters to secure the win.
Michelle Flower (Reading, Mass.) had two hits for the Vikings, while Begin collected two singles, and Fortin and two RBI for the Rams.
Salem State will play at UMass Boston tomorrow in a doubleheader beginning at 3:30 p.m. Framingham State is at Roger Williams on Friday at 3:30 p.m.
Release courtesy of SSU Sports Information.