Falcons Defeated By Owls, 8-0

Harnois finishes with four K's in MASCAC opening round contest 

Westfield, Mass. – The sixth seed Fitchburg State University softball team dropped an 8-0 decision to the third seeded Owls of Westfield State University in opening round action of the 2018 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) post season tournament this afternoon at Alumni Field.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 0, Westfield State 8

Records: Fitchburg State (13-20, 6-8 MASCAC) | Westfield State (15-18, 9-5 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Fitchburg State loaded the bases in the top of the first on singles by junior Melissa DiPhilippo (Norfolk, Mass.) and newcomer Cammi Sperling (Rutland, Mass.) as well as a walk by junior Michelle LeBlanc (Ashburnham, Mass.), but Westfield State was able to work out of the inning unscathed after inducing an inning ending ground out.

Westfield State grabbed a 5-0 lead in the bottom half of the first frame on RBI singles by senior Maddy Atkocatis (Westfield, Mass.), junior Karly Mastello (Russell, Mass.) and senior Michaela LeBlanc (Marblehead, Mass.).

The Owls tacked on three insurance runs in the following inning with Mastello and senior Angelica Banning (East Granby, Conn.) driving in runs, resulting in the 8-0 final.

Inside the Numbers

82nd meeting between the two teams on the softball field with the Falcons currently 24-58-0 all-time when taking on the Owls.

Westfield State has won the last nine contests with Fitchburg State, including a 9-1/6-5 double header sweep earlier this season as Falcon junior Nicole Sylvester led the way, going 2-for-4 with a double, home run, one run scored and two RBI.

Sophomore McKenzie Lambert (Wilbraham, Mass.), DiPhilippo, Sperling and junior Nicole Sylvester (Everett, Mass.) notched one hit each for the Falcons.

For the Owls, newcomer Lindsay Cordopatri (Woburn, Mass.) finished with two hits and two runs scored, while Mastello added three hits and two RBI.

In the circle, sophomore Mikayla Harnois (Attleboro, Mass.) pitched well for Fitchburg State, allowing two earned runs with four K's in four innings of relief, while freshman Emily Arredondo (Woburn, Mass.) collected the win for Westfield State, yielding just four hits with one strikeout in the complete game effort.

Up Next

Falcons conclude their 2018 season with an overall record of 13-20 and a 6-8 mark in conference play. Owls will travel to Framingham State on Thursday for a quarterfinal round match up with the Rams, starting at 3:30 PM.