Softball Seeks Three-Peat, Enters Season as Preseason Favorite
Framingham, Mass.- The reigning two-time Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Tournament Champion Framingham State Rams were predicted to win the 2019 MASCAC Softball Championship as voted on by the coaches from around the league.
The Rams received 47 points and five first place votes after posting a 25-17 record and winning the MASCAC Tournament for the second consecutive year. Under the direction of fifth-year head coach Larry Miller the Rams return two-time NFCA All-Region & 1st-Team All-MASCAC selection Kelsi Gunarathne (Providence, RI).
Gunarathne, the 2017 MASCAC Pitcher of the Year, led the league in just about every pitching category in 2018. She made 28 appearances including 22 starts with 16 completes games going 16-8 in the circle with a 1.88 ERA in 145.1 innings of work. Gunarathne led the MASCAC in ERA, strikeouts (129), innings pitched, strikeouts per seven innings (6.21) and wins. Gunarathne was also named the 2018 MASCAC Tournament MVP after pitching 21 shutout innings allowing just 16 hits and striking out 28 propelling the Rams to their second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Also returning to the diamond for the Rams are three All-MASCAC selections from 2018; junior captain Mycala Moody (North Attleboro, Mass.), sophomore Grace Caughey (Mendon, Mass.) & sophomore Camille Desrochers (Westford, Mass.).
Moody, the 2017 MASCAC Rookie of the Year, earned her second All-MASCAC honors after batting .358 with five doubles, two triples and 20 RBI during her sophomore season.
Caughey earned 1st-Team All-MASCAC honors in 2018 after an outstanding rookie season where she hit .368 with nine doubles, a triple and three homeruns with 33 RBI. Caughey, who earned MASCAC Rookie of the Week honors three times, also made 18 appearances in the circle with a 6-3 record.
Desrochers was an All-MASCAC honoree after batting .297 with seven doubles and 12 RBI adding eight stolen bases as the Rams backstop in 2018.
Worcester State finished second in the voting with 39 points and one first place vote. Bridgewater State and Westfield State finished tied for third 37 points and each garnering single first place votes. Salem State came in next with 23 followed but Fitchburg with 21 points. MCLA and Mass. Maritime rounded out the poll.
The Rams will open the 2019 season with a doubleheader at Johnson & Wales on Wednesday, March 13th followed by a ten game swing at THE Spring Games in Clermont, Florida.