Softball Sweeps Salem in MASCAC Twinbill

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University softball team swept visiting Salem State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Park.  The host Bears posted a 3-2 victory in the opener and completed the sweep with a 7-2 win in game two.

Bridgewater wraps up regular season play with a record of 28-11 on the season and 11-3 in the MASCAC.  Salem falls to 29-11 overall and 11-3 in conference play.  By virtue of the sweep, the Bears earned the second seed in next week's MASCAC Tournament and will host the third-seeded Vikings in opening round play next Thursday.

In the game one of the twinbill, Bridgewater walked off with the victory in the bottom of the seventh as senior first baseman Penny King (Hanover, Mass.) singled home freshman pinch runner Emily Messina (Plymouth, Mass.) from third with the winning run.

Sophomore right-hander Amber White (Middleboro, Mass.) picked up the win in the circle as she outdueled Salem's Alyssa Bryan (Stoneham, Mass.).  White (15-5) allowed two runs on seven hits with no walks and five strikeouts in the complete game effort.

Trailing 1-0 after a half inning of play, the Bears responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first.  Senior second baseman Michaela Ferreira (Fall River, Mass.) led off the frame with a double and, one out later, junior third baseman Jennifer Shaw (Brockton, Mass.) walked to put runners at first and second.  Junior catcher Brianna Strecker (Waterford, Conn.) ripped an RBI double to left to score Ferreira and send Shaw to third.  Shaw would come around to score later in the inning on a wild pitch.

Salem tied the game up at 2-2 in the top half of the second as sophomore left fielder Lauren DiCredico (Tewksbury, Mass.) doubled to lead off the inning and scored on senior shortstop Michelle Grifoni's (Peabody, Mass.) two-out RBI single.

The score remained 2-2 until the dramatic seventh.  With one out, Shaw started the rally with a single up the middle.  Messina, who was called on to run for Shaw, moved to second on Strecker's infield hit.  Junior left fielder Melissa Harmon (Shrewsbury, Mass.) followed with a walk to load the bases which brought up King who blooped a single into left field to win the game.

Bryan (15-3) suffered the loss in the circle for Salem as she gave up three runs on nine hits and four walks while fanning five.  She also hit batter.

Strecker led BSU's nine-hit attack as she went 2-for-3.  Junior second baseman Lauren Garchinsky (Saugus, Mass.) paced the Vikings as she was 3-for-3 at the plate with a double.

In game two, Bridgewater broke a 2-2 tie with a five-run fourth inning as the Bears completed the sweep with the 7-2 victory.

After giving up a pair of runs in the first, BSU junior right-hander Meghan Dunn (Colchester, Conn.) settled down to pick-up the complete game win.  Dunn (13-6) scattered six hits, did not walk anyone and struck out four.

Down 2-0 in the first, the Bears' cut the deficit in half as sophomore designated player Jasmyn McCone (Taunton, Mass.) tripled with one out and scored on Shaw's RBI single.  Bridgewater tied it in the second as senior center fielder Jordan McDermott (East Bridgewater, Mass.) rapped a one-out single, stole second, stole third and came around to score on a throwing error by the Salem catcher.

In the fourth, Harmon led off the frame with a walk and was replaced by Messina at first base.  Messina moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and came around to score the go ahead run when freshman shortstop Jocelyn Bettencourt (Plymouth, Mass.) reached on a throwing error.  After a Chelsie Babcock (Wilmington, Mass.) pinch hit single and stolen bases, McCone belted a two-double to the gap in left-center field to give the Bears a 5-2 lead.  Shaw singled home McCone with the fourth run of the inning and also chased Salem senior starter Katelynn Fanning (East Boston, Mass.).  King capped off the scoring with a double to left-center with Shaw scoring all the way around from first.

Fanning (10-6) gave up seven runs (four earned) in 3 1/3 innings of work. She walked three, hit a batter and struck out one.  Bryan hurled 2 2/3 innings of relief allowing two hits, including King's, RBI double, and striking out four.

McCone, Shaw and McDermott had two hits apiece to pace the Bears' offensive in game two. McCone scored two runs and drove in two, while Shaw knocked in a pair of runs and scored one.  McDermott finished with four stolen bases in the game.