Salem State Runs Past Fitchburg State

Vikings down Falcons, 11-1 in game one; hold on for 4-2 game two victory

FITCHBURG, Mass. (March 31, 2012) – The Fitchburg State softball team dropped a pair of games to MASCAC rival Salem State University this afternoon, dropping game one 11-1 before falling 4-2 in the nightcap at Coolidge Park this afternoon.

Salem State 11, Fitchburg State 1 (Game 1)

Salem State scored 11 runs on 16 hits as it defeated Fitchburg State 11-1 in game one.

Leading the way for the Vikings offense was senior Gabbie Vitale (Danvers, Mass./Bishop Fenwick) who finished 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, two runs scored and a pair of RBI, while junior Christina Cipriani (Peabody, Mass./Bishop Fenwick) went 2-for-4 with a homerun, one run scored and two RBI. Senior Michelle Grifoni (Peabody, Mass./Peabody) was also solid with a pair of hits, including a double, two RBI and one run scored, while freshman Jenn Toussaint (Reading, Mass./Reading) chipped in with a homerun, two runs scored and two RBI.

For the Falcons, sophomore Megan Breault (Palmer, Mass./Palmer) hit 1-for-2 with double and run scored, while freshman Katelyn Fitzgerald (Fitchburg, Mass./Saint Bernards) added an RBI single.

Salem State opened an early 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning as Alyssa Bryan (Stoneham, Mass./Stoneham) stole home and Bergeron added an RBI single two batters later. The Vikings made it 3-0 in the fourth on a solo homerun by Cipriani before breaking the game open with pair of runs in the fifth inning for a 5-0 lead.

Fitchburg State broke its scoring drought in the bottom half of the fifth (5-1) with an RBI single from Fitzgerald, but Salem State put the game away in the sixth inning, tacking on six runs for a commanding ten run advantage (11-1).

Bryan picked up the win for Salem State, allowing one run on seven hits, while striking out four, while freshman Brittany Whiting (Sharon, Mass./Sharon) suffered the set-back for Fitchburg State.

Salem State 4, Fitchburg State 2 (Game 2)

In game two, Salem State was able to hold off Fitchburg State, 4-2 to complete its MASCAC doubleheader sweep. The Vikings received a strong performance from Grifoni, who went 2-for-4 with a triple and one run scored, while sophomore Lauren DiCredico (Tewksbury, Mass./Tewksbury) added 2-for-3 afternoon with a triple.

Freshman Victoria Brinkley (Durham, Conn./Durham) led the Falcons' game two effort, hitting 2-for-4 with an RBI double, while sophomore Shannon Fitzgerald (Blackstone, Mass./Blackstone Regional) connected for a pair of singles and a run scored.

The visitors opened an early lead again in the nightcap, posting a 2-0 advantage in the opening frame before doubling their lead (4-0) in the third inning on an RBI triple by DiCredico and RBI single off the bat of Michelle Flower (Reading, Mass./Reading).

The Falcons cut into the deficit in the bottom half of the inning as Brinkley connected on an RBI double (4-1) for the Falcons first run of the game. The Green and Gold added another single run in the bottom of the sixth inning on an RBI single by Emily Pomer (Groveland, Mass./Whittier Tech) but that's as close as the Falcons would get as Salem was able to hold on for the 4-2 victory.

Senior Katelynn Fanning (East Boston, Mass./St. Mary's) earned the win for the Vikings, scattering two runs and six hits in her complete game effort (9 K's), while Whiting suffered the loss for the Falcons with four runs allowed on ten hits (4 K's).

Fitchburg State (3-15, 0-2 MASCAC) returns to action on Wednesday as it hosts Fisher College for a double header starting at 3 p.m. Salem State (14-6, 2-0 MASCAC) will host the University of Southern Maine for a twin billing on Thursday starting at 4 p.m.