Softball Drops MASCAC Doubleheader to MCLA

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University softball team dropped a pair of games to Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) foe MCLA on Sunday afternoon.  The host Trailblazers won the first game, 2-0, and completed the sweep with a 2-1 victory in game two.

With the sweep MCLA improves to 10-14 on the season and 4-2 in the MASCAC, while Bridgewater falls to 12-12 overall and 3-3 in conference play.

In the opener, junior Amber White (Middleboro, MA) pitched well in the setback for the Bears as she allowed just one hit over the first five innings and retired 15 of the first 17 batters she faced.

Sophomore Amanda Meczywor (Adams, MA) was just as effective as she hurled shutout ball in her five innings of work. Meczywor scattered four hits, did not walk anyone and fanned three.

The Trailblazers broke through in the bottom of the sixth as freshman Abigal Lucas (Braintree, MA) led off the frame with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.  Meczywor then came up with a clutch two-out, RBI double to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.  Sophomore Angelica Perfido (Whately, MA) followed with an RBI single to give the Trailblazers a two-run cushion.

Freshman Rachel Quackenbush (Hoosic Falls, NY), who took over in the circle for Meczywor to start the sixth inning, fanned all six batters she faced to pick up the win in relief.

White (7-5) took the loss for the Bears as she gave up two runs on four hits with no walks and four strikeouts.

Bridgewater's best scoring chance came in the top of the fifth inning when the Bears had two runners cut down at the plate.

In the night cap, Quackenbush (3-4) went distance allowing one unearned run on two hits and a walk while fanning ten.

The Trailblazers got on the board early with an unearned run in the first. Senior Kendra Hobbs (Haverhill, MA) reached on an error, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, moved to third on a ground out and scored on a Perfido RBI single.

MCLA scored again in the second inning on a solo home run by freshman Tanelle Ciempa (Adams, MA).

The Bears cut the deficit in half in the sixth when senior Brianna Strecker (Waterford, CT) reached on an error to open the inning. Strecker went from first to third on a senior Jennifer Shaw (Brockton, MA) base hit and scored when Shaw got herself in a rundown.

Senior Meghan Dunn (Cholchester, CT) went all six innings in the loss for the Bears.  Dunn (5-7) gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.

Both teams have noontime MASCAC doubleheaders on Monday.  MCLA will take on the Vikings of Salem State University with the games being played at Westfield State University. Bridgewater will host the Lancers of Worcester State University.