Softball Takes Game One in Split with Roger Williams

Bristol, R.I. – The Framingham State University softball team split a non-conference doubleheader this afternoon at Roger Williams University. The Rams defeated Roger Williams 3-0 in the opener before falling 11-7 in the nightcap.

After a three-up, three-down top of the first in the opener, the Hawks tried to bring across their first run in their opening at-bat. Veronica Alicea (Trumbull, Conn.) and Samantha Mittel (Palm Coast, Fla.) were both hit by pitches, while Delaney Burns (Hudson, N.H.) drew a full count walk, all with two outs. The Rams were fortunately able to strand the three runners, as Allie Morrissey (Barre, Mass.) made a sliding catch on a fly ball to the outfield for the third out.

Five of the six outs in the second inning were strikeouts, with Meghan Maliga (Suffield, Conn.) fanning the last two batters of the inning for RWU and Andrea Smith (Milford, Mass.) striking out the side for the Rams.

RWU had another opportunity in the third to take the lead. Taylor Messier (Cranston, R.I.) made it to second on a throwing error, reaching third on a wild pitch with one out. Yet Smith was able escape the inning, getting a ground-out to third and a strikeout.

In the fourth, the Rams were able to break through. Freshman Tiffanie Marsh (Tewksbury, Mass.) notched the first hit of the game, sending a single to left. Senior Alyssa Begin (Salem, Mass.) dropped a bunt down the left field line and beat out the throw, putting runners at first and second. Junior Shelby Phillips (Taunton, Mass.) stepped up and came inches away from a three-run homer, hitting an eventual double just off of the top of the fence to bring in Marsh. Sophomore Jess Anthony (Stoneham, Mass.) followed later with an RBI single of her own. Smith helped her own cause with a sacrifice fly to give the Rams a 3-0 lead.

From there, Smith continued to work through the Hawk lineup, getting 1-2-3 innings in the fourth and the fifth. Freshman Casey Fanning (East Boston, Mass.) made a close catch in the sixth on a low line drive to left to preserve the no-hitter. However, Alicea dropped in a short base hit just in front Fanning for the first Hawk hit of the game. Another Ram error on Burns' at-bat put runners at first and second with one out. However, Smith was again able to preserve the shutout, getting a ground-out to first and a fly-out to center.

The Rams were able to hold on for the win in the seventh despite the Hawks loading the bases with one out. Framingham State picked up a force-out at home and a force-out at third for the final two outs of the game.

In the nightcap, Marsh kicked the game off with a double to left field then moved to third on a wild pitch with one out. She would remain stranded as Hawk starter Tori Milano (Eastchester, N.Y.) was able to strike out the next two Ram batters. The Hawks left runners at first and second in their first at-bat.

In the third, Marsh notched another double while Begin pushed a bunt single to third then stole second to put runners at second and third with one out. Phillips ripped a double down the left field line just underneath the glove of Burns, bringing home Marsh and Begin. Sophomore Helen Falzone (Ashland, Mass.) then traded places with Phillips with a double of her own to make it 3-0 Rams. Two Hawk errors in the inning helped add two more runs for the Rams, as they ended the top of the third with a 5-0 lead.

The Hawks were able to get on the board for the first time of the day in the bottom of the fourth. Messier and Caitlin Downes (Southington, Conn.) reached on back-to-back singles with one out. Though Downes was called out leaving early on a steal of second, Alicea walked next, bringing Burns to the plate for an RBI single. Mittel followed with a two-run single of her own to score Alice and Burns and pull RWU within two. Pinch-runner Molly Petrone (Northborough, Mass.) scored on a passed ball before pinch-hitter Julianne Vesce (Mahwah, N.J.) gave RWU the lead with a bases-clearing three-run double in the right field gap.

Alana Peoples (Scarborough, Maine) came through in the fifth with an RBI double, scoring Meredith Moise (North Reading, Mass.) from first. Peoples later came home on an RBI single from Vesce. RWU added two more runs in the sixth inning on back-to-back RBI doubles by Maliga and Moise.

In the top of the seventh, Framingham State made one last attempt at a rally. The first four Rams reached via base hit, with Phillips notching an RBI double and Falzone getting an RBI single. However, those would be the only runs allowed in the inning, with RWU holding on for the win.

Roger Williams (19-15) will host Nichols in the CCC Play-In game on Sunday, while Framingham State (16-18) hosts Mass. Maritime on Monday in their season finale.

Release courtesy of RWU Sports Information.