Falcons Drop Two To Owls In MASCAC Action

Drop opener 9-1; Edged 6-5 in nightcap

Westfield, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University softball team dropped a pair of Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) contest to the Owls of Westfield State University, 9-1/6-5 this afternoon at Alumni Field.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 1, Westfield State 9 (Game One)

Score: Fitchburg State 5, Westfield State 6 (Game Two)

Records: Fitchburg State (9-15, 4-4 MASCAC) | Westfield State (9-13, 5-3 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Game One

Fitchburg State opened the scoring in the top of first as sophomore McKenzie Lambert (Wilbraham, Mass.) doubled to center to lead off the game and following a walk by classmate Emma Campbell (Goffstown, N.H.), scored on a throwing miscue.

Westfield State knotted the score (1-1) in the bottom half of the frame when junior Caitlin Hughes (Hanson, Mass.) singled to left to bring home senior Maddy Atkocaitis (Westfield, Mass.) before the Owls broke the 1-1 stalemate in the bottom of the second, plating six runs with Atkocaitis and junior Karly Mastello (Russell, Mass.) connecting on two-run base knocks, resulting in the 9-1 game one final.

Game Two

Westfield State grabbed a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first as Atkocaitis doubled to center to score Hughes before Fitchburg State answered back in the top of the second on a bases clearing double down the left field line off the bat of junior Maddie Medina (Pelham, N.H.) that brought home classmates Samantha Woodman (Essex, Mass.) and Hayley McCarthy (Lawrence, Mass.) as well as sophomore Mikayla Harnois (Attleboro, Mass.) to make the score 3-1.

The Owls regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth (6-3) as Atkocaitis, junior Maddie Keigwin (Sutton, Mass.) and sophomore Kaitlynn Prophet (Bellingham, Mass.) notched RBI knocks. The Falcons nearly retied the contest in the top half of the seventh as Lambert drew a one out walk before junior Nicole Sylvester (Everett, Mass.) launched her first collegiate home run over the left field fence to cut the deficit to 6-5, but the hosts would close out the contest by inducing a game ending ground out three batters later.

Inside the Numbers

Fitchburg State was paced by Sylvester, who finished a combined 2-for-4 with a double, home run, one run scored and two RBI, while Medina went 2-of-5 at the dish with a double and three RBI.

For Westfield State, Atkocaitis hit 3-for-5 with a double, triple, three runs scored and four RBI, while senior Michaela LeBlanc (Marblehead, Mass.) added three hits, including a double, two runs scored and two RBI.

81st meeting between the two teams on the softball field with the Falcons currently 24-57-0  all-time when taking on the Owls.

Westfield State has won the last eight matchups with Fitchburg State, including a 3-2/6-2 double header sweep last season as Falcon junior Michelle LeBlanc paced the Falcons, collecting two hits, including a double, home run, one run scored and two RBI.

In the circle, Cambell was solid for Fitchburg State, allowing just two earned run with three K's, while freshman Emily Arredondo (Woburn, Mass.) and sophomore Emily Woodworth (Marlborough, Mass.) combined to give up five earned runs, while striking out four in the two wins for Westfield State.

Up Next

Falcons will host the Vikings of Salem State tomorrow for a MASCAC double header, starting at 12:00 PM. Owls will travel to Mass. Maritime Academy on the same day for a conference twin-billing at 12:00 PM.