Softball Sixth Seed in MASCAC Tournament

Buzzards Bay, Mass. – The Framingham State University softball team has earned the sixth seed as Bridgewater State University takes the top seed in the 2013 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Championships, which begin with single elimination first round play on Thursday, May 2nd and continue in a double elimination format from Friday, May 3rd through Sunday, May 5th, as this year's tournament field has expanded from four to six teams.

Thursday's single elimination first round games will feature fourth-seeded Fitchburg State University hosting fifth-seeded Salem State University at Coolidge Park in Fitchburg, Mass. beginning at 4:00 p.m. EDT, while third-seeded Worcester State University will host sixth-seeded Framingham State University at Rockwood Park in Worcester, Mass. beginning at 5:00 p.m. EDT. The Fitchburg State-Salem State winner will advance to take on Bridgewater State in the second round opener of the double elimination portion of the championships on Friday afternoon at Alumni Park in Bridgewater, Mass. beginning at 4:00 p.m. EDT, while the Worcester State-Framingham State winner will advance to take on second-seeded MCLA at Joe Zavattaro Field in North Adams, Mass. beginning at 3:00 p.m. EDT. The tournament continues on Saturday morning at Bridgewater State's Alumni Park with the double elimination format beginning at 11:00 a.m. EDT, with the championship round set for Sunday afternoon beginning at Noon EDT, as the 2013 MASCAC champion receives an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Championships.

Bridgewater State captured its 24th MASCAC regular season title by winning 11 of 14 conference contests, as the Bears enter post-season play with a 22-14 overall slate under the guidance of Interim Head Coach Allie LeBlanc. Senior Jennifer Shaw (Brockton, Mass.) leads Bridgewater State at the plate with a .386 batting average to go with 10 doubles and 18 RBI, while junior Amber White (Middleboro, Mass.), the two-time conference Pitcher of the Year, paces the Bears on the mound with a 12-5 mark and an 0.71 earned run average. MCLA posted 19 overall victories, including a 10-4 league slate, under Head Coach Mike Ameen, and the Trailblazers are led at the plate by freshman Michaela DiNicola (Lanesboro, Mass.), who is batting .342 on the season, while fellow freshman Rachel Quackenbush (Hoosick Falls, N.Y.), the MASCAC Co-Rookie of the Year, sports a 9-6 mark with a 1.33 earned run average inside the circle.

Worcester State notched a 22-15 overall record, including a 10-4 slate in MASCAC action, under Head Coach Jennifer Kapenas this spring, and the Lancers are paced at the plate by senior Kylene Pease (Ashland, Mass.), who is batting .375 with four doubles and 17 RBI, and on the mound by senior Hannah Everson (Methuen, Mass.), who has notched an 8-5 mark with two saves and an 0.73 ERA. Fitchburg State collected 18 victories, including an 8-6 league mark, under Head Coach Merry MacDonald, as sophomore Colleen Flaherty (Attleboro, Mass.) leads the Falcons with a .365 batting average that includes four doubles and 20 RBI. Junior Kerry Alcott (Groton, Mass.) has recorded 10 wins and a 2.30 ERA inside the circle for Fitchburg State this spring.

Salem State enters the tournament with a 19-15 overall mark, including a 7-7 league slate, under Head Coach Leanne Doviak, and senior Alyssa Bryan (Stoneham, Mass.) leads the Vikings both at the plate with a .348 batting average that includes 10 extra-base hits and 15 RBI and on the mound with a 12-6 record and a 2.16 earned run average. Framingham State rounds out this year's championship field, as the Rams of Head Coach Rich Paulhus posted nine overall victories, including six in conference play. Sophomore Tiffany Agostini (Rehoboth, Mass.) leads Framingham State with a .294 batting average and eight extra-base hits, while senior Yaya Faria (Acton, Mass.) has notched six wins and a 2.11 earned run average inside the circle.

Release courtesy of MASCAC Media Relations.