Softball Falls Short Against Clarkson and St. Lawrence

Clermont, Fla. – The Framingham State University softball team rallied for four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning against St. Lawrence University, but fell short as they were defeated 8-5 at the NTC Games.  The Rams dropped their first game of the day 10-2 in six innings to Clarkson.

The Rams (0-6) struck first against Clarkson in the top of the first. Freshman Anna Dziok (Southampton, Mass.) led off the game with a single through the left side.  After a pair of outs, sophomore Kylie Boyle (Billerica, Mass.) singled up the middle driving in Dziok. 

Clarkson tallied two in the bottom of the first to take the lead for good and added four in the third when they took advantage of three Framingham errors.  They extended the lead with two more in the fifth.

The Rams got one back in the top of the sixth.  Sophomore Tiffanie Marsh (Tewksbury, Mass.) and Boyle hit back-to-back singles.  Freshman Holly Greet (Raynham, Mass.) followed with a single to left driving in Marsh, but a double play ball ended the inning.  Clarkson closed the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to reach the eight run differential. 

Junior Natasha Arseneau (Waltham, Mass.) suffered the loss going three innings and allowing eight runs, three earned, on nine hits with five strikeouts, while Marsh tossed two innings of relief.

St. Lawrence got on the board first in game two with six unearned runs in top of second inning after a call at first base that would have been the third out of the inning was reversed.

The Rams got one back in the bottom of the frame when Boyle belted a long homerun over the left field fence.  St. Lawrence counter with a two run shot in the top of the four to push the lead to 8-1.

The Rams batted around in the bottom of the fourth and plated four runs to pull within three.  Freshmen Megan Downing (Hanson, Mass.) and Bridget McGrail (Worcester, Mass.) led off the inning with back-to-back singles.  After an out, sophomore Casey Fanning (East Boston, Mass.) hit a grounder past the first baseman to drive in Downing.  Dziok delivered an RBI single to left scoring McGrail and Fanning.   An infield single from freshman Dayna Marchant (East Bridgewater, Mass.) gave the Rams runners on the corners and Marsh delivered a double down the left field line plating Dziok for the fourth run of the inning.

Kyle Plimpton came on in relief for St. Lawrence and tossed two scoreless innings to preserve the victory.  Marsh was tagged with the loss for the Rams going four innings and allowing eight runs, two earned, on 10 hits.  Arseneau tossed three innings of scoreless relief for the Rams.

The Rams are back in action tomorrow at the NTC Games when they face the University of New England and Buffalo State at 9 and 11 a.m.