Softball Splits MASCAC Twinbill with Westfield State

WESTFIELD, Mass. -- The visiting Bridgewater State University softball team split a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader with Westfield State University on Saturday afternoon.

Bridgewater claimed the opener by a 14-1 score behind two home runs from Shannon Grindle, while Westfield earned the split with a 2-1 victory in game two.

The Bears wrapped up the regular season with an overall record of 17-17 with a 9-5 mark in the MASCAC. The Owls are now 14-18 overall and 9-5 in conference play. Both teams will await playoff seedings later tonight pending the outcome of all of today's games.

In the opener, Bridgewater pounded the Owls with nine extra base hits, on seven doubles and the two home runs from Grindle. Grindle's solo shot in the first inning to the opposite field over the scoreboard in right field gave Bridgewater a 1-0. The Bears added single runs in the second, third and fourth innings, then three in the fifth when Grindle launched a mammoth shot some 40 feet over the six-foot high fence in left field.

Grindle reached safely five times and scored three runs as she also recorded three walks.

Natalie Sorrenti earned her eighth win of the season, limiting Westfield to just three hits and did not walk a batter while striking out four.  Jenny Heller and Alexandra Ruprecht each had four hits and two double apiece for the Bears, with Ruprecht driving in five runs and Heller knocking in a pair. Heller also scored four runs.

Freshman starting pitcher Emily Arredondo (6-9) took the loss for the Owls.

In the night cap, Owls sophomore starting pitcher Emily Woodworth allowed just one run on five hits to earn the win.

Westfield scored both runs in the first inning off Sorrenti (8-2), who tossed complete games in both ends of the twinbill.

Bridgewater scored it's only run in the fourth as pinch-runner Julianne Coleman scored from third on a passed ball. Grindle doubled with one out in the frame and was replaced on the base paths by Coleman. Coleman then advanced to third on a wild pitch and raced home on the passed ball.

Grindle went 1-for-2 with a walk in game two, while Kacie Carvalho was 2-for-3 at the plate.

Notes: Grindle's nine home runs on the season are the most for a BSU softball player since Jennifer Shaw belted nine in 2012. BSU Hall of Famer Jen Goodwin holds the school record with 14 home runs in 1995. Goodwin also connected for ten home runs in 1994 and again in 1996.