Softball Swept By Salem State In Afternoon Twinbill

Salem State 3, Worcester State 2

Salem State 3, Worcester State 0

Game 1 --- Box Score

Game 2 --- Box Score

Salem, MA --- Salem State defeated Worcester State 3-2 and 3-0 as the Lancers are now tied with Framingham State for second place in the MASCAC. WSC is now 14-12 and 6-2 in the conference while the Vikings improve to 24-5-1 and 7-1 in the MASCAC.

SSC sophomore Katelynn Fanning (East Boston, MA) earned her league-leading 11th win of the year as the Vikings edged the Worcester State, 3-2 in the opener.

Fanning pitched seven complete innings allowing just three hits and two earned runs while striking out ten to extend Salem State's winning streak to 11 games.

Worcester State went on top 2-0 in the third inning. Sophomore Erica Cordio (Leominster, MA) hit a double to put runners on second and third before classmate Jamie Jacobs (Billerica, MA) followed with a two-run single to give the Lancers the advantage

Salem State responded and cut the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the inning. Freshman Sarah Brown (North Attleboro, MA) reached on an error and shen then came around to score on a triple by junior Taylor Orlando (Danvers, MA).

The Lady Vikings rallied for two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. With one out, senior Amanda Scola (Leominster, MA) and sophomore Michelle Grifoni (Peabody, MA) hit back-to-back singles. Following a sacrifice bunt by first-year Lauren Garchinsky (Saugus, MA), senior Katie Oram (Lynn,MA) hit a clutch two-out single to give Salem State the 3-2 lead.

Fanning shut down Worcester State the rest of the way by not allowing a hit to preserve the win. 

Junior Michaella Mahoney (Shrewsbury, MA) pitched well despite suffering the loss. Mahoney (9-6) allowed three runs on six hits with nine strikeouts. Five of Mahoney's six losses have been by less than one run.

In the second game, Garchinsky hit a key two-run double and Katelynn Fanning (East Boston, MA) pitched four and one third innings of scoreless relief as the the Vikings blanked the Lancers 3-0 in the nightcap.

The sweep enabled Salem State to take sole possession of first place in the MASCAC conference while second place Worcester State falls a game behind.

SSC scored all of the runs they would need in the first two innings. Brown reached on a miscue in the infield and following a sacrifice scored on a passed ball to give Salem State a 1-0 advantage in the first.

The Lady Vikings then tacked on two more runs in the second to take a 3-0 edge. Scola led off with a ground-rule double. After a successful sacrifice bunt by Grifondi and a walk to freshman Sarra Bergeron (Methuen, MA) put runners on second and third. Garchinsky then laced a two-run double to give Salem State all of the support they would need.

Bergeron started for the Lady Vikings going two and two thirds innings without giving up any runs while she yielded two hits and tallied five strikeouts. Fanning relieved in the second and gave up just two singles the rest of the way to earn her second triumph of the twinbill.

Sophomore Marcy Rumrill (Orange, MA) took the loss for Worcester State after giving up five hits and two earned runs in a complete-game effort.

Second-year Ashley Howe (Wichendon, MA) went 2-for-3 for the Lancers, who are 6-4 in their past 10 games.

Salem State travels to UMass-Dartmouth tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at 4:00 PM while Worcester State takes on Becker College in a twinbill at WPI.

Major Portions of Release Courtesy of Salem State Sports Information