Softball Splits MASCAC Twinbill with Salem State

SALEM, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University softball team opened Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) play with a doubleheader split on the road against Salem State University.

Chloe Manousos (Lowell, Mass.) went 3-for-3 with a triple and two RBI's to lead the host Vikings to a 4-2 victory in game one, while Kacie Carvalho (Fairhaven, Mass.) went 2-for-4 with three RBI to help the Bears earn the split with an 8-4 win in game two.

Salem State is now 11-5 and 1-1 in the MASCAC, while Bridgewater State goes to 7-11, and 1-1 in conference play.

In game one, Salem State plated two in the first, taking advantage of a throwing error by Bridgewater State. Marisa Sanchez (Framingham, Mass.), who singled and Manousos who walked, both scored on the throwing error.

Bridgewater State rallied in the third, as two infield singles, set up a run-scoring double to left by Carvalho. Shannon Grindle (Halifax, Mass.) followed with a base hit to center that scored Breanna Shaffer (Plainville, Mass.), but Carvalho was cut down at the plate trying to score from second keeping the game tied at 2-2.

The Vikings went ahead 4-2 in the fifth as Manousos blasted a two-run triple to right that scored Jen Crovo (Melrose, Mass.) and Sanchez with two outs.

Meghan Black (Winchendon, Mass.) pitched a complete game to pick up her seventh win of the season, allowing two runs on eight hits and a walk.

Kathleen Bailey (Bayport, Mass.) went the distance for the Bears in the loss, giving up four runs (two earned) on seven hits with three walks and six strikeouts.

Crovo finished with a single and two stolen bases while Sanchez had two runs scored for the Vikings. Carvalho and Grindle had two hits apiece for Bridgewater State.

The Bears opened the second game, by loading the bases on two walks and an error. However, starter IIeish Burney (Bristol, Conn.) prevented a big inning by inducing a double play ground out that produced just one run before retiring the side.

Salem State got one back in the bottom of the inning as Samantha Holey (Lynn, Mass.) knocked in Sanchez to tie the game.

Three singles set up a three-run second inning for the Bears. Shaffer produced the first run with a bases loaded ground out to second. With runners on second and third Carvalho doubled down the left field line to score two more as Bridgewater State built a 4-1 lead.

Bailey replaced Bears starting pitcher Deianeira Underhill (Rochester, Mass.) in the second after Salem State threatened after two Bridgewater State errors. Bailey worked out of the inning as the Vikings just scored one run on the Bears third error of the inning. Underhill went 1.1 innings and allowed two runs on one hit with two walks.

In the fifth, back-to-back doubles by Jackie Welch (Hubbardston, Mass.) and Morgan Cox (Dennis Port, Mass.) made the score 5-2 as Black replaced Burney on the mound for Salem State. Samantha LoPilato (Medford, Masss.) and Shaffer followed with RBI singles before Carvalho made the score 8-2 with Bridgewater State's sixth hit of the inning. A line drive double play back to the pitcher finally ended the inning.

Salem State plated single runs in the fifth and seventh innings, but could not get to Bailey, who recorded her fifth win of the season by allowing just two runs (one earned) on three hits with two strikeouts in 5.2 innings of relief.

Black finished the game for the Vikings going 2.2 innings and allowing six hits and two runs.

Both teams host MASCAC doubleheaders on Sunday at one. The Vikings welcome the Trailblazers of the MCLA, while the Bears entertain the Owls of Westfield State University.