Softball, Framingham State Draw Split In MASCAC Series

Worcester, MA --- Worcester State and Framingham State drew to a split in MASCAC softball action this afternoon at Rockwood Park.

Sophomore Meghan Rich (Chelmsford, MA) fired a three-hit shutout in the opener to help pace the Lancers to a 2-0 victory before junior Shelby Phillips (Taunton, MA) drove in five in a 7-4 comeback win for the Rams in the nightcap.

With the win and the loss the Blue and Gold move to 10-15 overall and 8-4 in conference action to remain in second place while Framingham State is now 13-17 and 6-6 in league action for fifth place in the eight-team loop.

Rich (5-6) fanned six in the first game over her seven innings of work while she also issued one walk in her sixth complete contest of the season.

Senior Andrea Smith (Milford, MA) was dealt the loss for the Rams as she dropped to 2-12 on the campaign. Smith surrendered two earned runs to go with eight hits as she did not strikeout one batter and gave up one walk.

The Lancers scored all they needed to win the contest in the bottom of the second.

After consecutive singles by Rich and senior Hillary Hart (Clinton, MA), sophomore Sara Pelletier (Leominster, MA) followed with a RBI infield single and junior Taylor Hanley (Wilmington, MA) knocked in Hart for the early 2-0 margin.

Framingham State threatened twice when sophomore Taylor McGrail (Worcester, MA/Burncoat) led off the top of the third with a walk and senior Alyssa Begin (Salem, MA) singled to start the sixth. However, once they each moved to second on sacrifice bunts, Rich zoned in and notched the two outs she needed on both occasions to retire the side.

WSU outhit their opponents 8-3 in game one as Rich and Pelletier finished with two base-knocks apiece. 

Trailing 4-3 in the top of the seventh in the second game, Phillips registered a key two-run single to left with a pair down  to help give the visitors the lead.

Smith then tacked on two more runs when she smacked a solo knock into center field which drove in Phillips and freshman Danielle Belliveau (Lakeville, MA) for the 7-4 advantage.

Sophomore Alex Ferri (Winthrop, MA) closed out the last of the seventh with a perfect frame to help the Rams salvage the split.

Framingham State staked the early 2-0 advantage when Phillps cranked her third homer of the campaign over the fence in left center for a two-run blast.

The Rams added one more score in the top of the third for the 3-0 edge on an RBI fielder's choice ground out to plate Begin.

Worcester State came right back and added three more single runs over the next three stanzas to knot up the score.

Rich notched a run producing single to center to score freshman Courtney Salisbury (Cranston, RI) in the bottom of the third before Salisbury belted a single to the deep part of center which helped score Pelletier in the fourth.

Freshman Kayla Humphrey (Wallingford, CT) helped the hosts tie up the game 3-3 in the fifth when she crossed home on a RBI fielder's choice, when the second baseman opted for the out at the plate

The Blue and Gold took over the 4-3 edge in the bottom of the sixth on a key infield miscue.

After sophomore Jillian Witkowski (Leicester, MA) moved to third on an errant throw by the third baseman, she scampered home and reached on a perfect strike from the centerfielder that the catcher mishandled in front of the dish.

 Ferri (6-2) scattered 10 hits while she allowed four runs (two earned), struck out four and walked two batters in her seven innings of work.

Humphrey (4-5) surrendered seven runs (six earned) to go with a season-best eight punch outs. She did not yield one base on balls in the complete game setback.    

Phillips and Belliveau tallied three hits apiece as Begin and sophomore Helen Falzone (Ashland, MA) registered two base-knocks each to help the Rams outslug the Lancers, 11-10 for the game. Begin, Falzone and Phillips all crossed home on a duo of occasions and Smith had two RBIs.

Salisbury was 3-for-4 and Rich chipped in with a pair of solo singles for WSU in the finale.

Both squads will play non-conference doubleheaders in the next week. Worcester State hosts Brandeis at 5 PM while Framingham State heads to Roger Williams for a 3:30 twin bill on the road.