Softball Takes Game Two in Extras to Earn Split with Salem State

Salem, Mass. – After dropping the opening game of a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MACAC) softball doubleheader 8-0 on the road this afternoon against Salem State, the Framingham State University softball team rallied for a thrilling 4-3 nine inning victory in the night cap to earn the split.

With the split, Salem State goes to 10-19-1 on the year and 3-5 in the MASCAC, while Framingham moves to 10-16 overall and an identical 3-5 in the MASCAC.

The Rams received a strong pitching performance from sophomore Alex Ferri (Winthrop, Mass.) in game two as she improved her season mark to 2-3.  Ferri went the distance allowing three runs, all earned, on seven hits with three strikeouts and four walks.

Jenn Toussaint got the Vikings on the board in the bottom of the first inning with a two-run homerun.

The game would remain 2-0 in favor of the Vikings until the inning when freshman Tiffanie Marsh (Tewksbury, Mass.) singled to drive in classmate Danielle Belliveau (Lakeville, Mass.) with the Rams first run of the day.

The Rams grabbed their first lead of the day in the next inning when Belliveau tripled in sophomore Helen Falzone (Ashland, Mass.) and senior Andrea Smith (Milford, Mass.).

In the bottom of the seventh, Cara Crowley tied the game at 3-3 with an RBI-single that brought Lauren DiCredico home and forced extra innings.

In extras, freshman Marissa Flynn (Marlborough, Mass.) plated the game winning run in the ninth with a single that scored classmate Mackenzie Williams (North Andover, Mass.) from third.

The Vikings had opportunities for the win in the bottom of the ninth, but came up short against Ferri.

DiCredico picked up the loss (4-8) on 7.2 innings pitched and allowed four runs, all earned, on 10 hits.

Belliveau finished going 2-for-4 with two RBI's for the Rams.

In the opener Toussaint put the Vikings on the board in the bottom of the first with a sacrifice fly that scored Crowley.  In the next at-bat, Kristin McKenzie drove in Rebecca Krigman on an RBI-single. The Vikings exited the first with an early 2-0 lead.

DiCredico cruised through the Rams line up, going 5.0 innings and allowing no runs on eight Framingham State hits to earn her fourth win of the season (4-7). However, DiCredico did run into a bit trouble in the fourth, allowing three hits to load the bases, but was able to get induce a pop out to end the threat.

In the bottom of the fourth, Salem State added to their lead with an RBI-single from Crowley.  The Vikings opened up the game, adding three more runs, including a two-run double from McKenzie in the fifth.

Salem State closed out the game after the sixth inning with two runs that ended the game due to an eight-run lead. Toussaint drove in the decisive eighth run on a single.

McKenzie finished the game going 2-for-3, driving in three runs and also scoring once for the Vikings.

Falzone led the Rams in the opener going 2-for3 at the dish..

Smith went four innings, allowing five earned runs on eight hits, while Emily Kattau (Gardner, Mass.) came on in relief, going 1.1 innings and allowed two runs on four hits.

The Vikings host Massachusetts Maritime Academy tomorrow at Alumni Field at 2 p.m. Framingham State will play the Owls of Westfield State University tomorrow also at 2:00 p.m. 

Portions of release courtesy of SSU Sports Information.