Bridgewater State Shuts Down Fitchburg State

Falcons fall 4-0 in game one, downed 3-0 in game two

FITCHBURG, Mass. – The Fitchburg State softball team suffered a pair of tough setbacks to conference rival Bridgewater State this afternoon at Alumni Field, The Falcons fell 4-0 in the opening contest before dropping game two by the score of 3-0 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action.

Bridgewater State 4, Fitchburg State 0 (Game 1) 

In game one, Bridgewater State hurler Kelly McCarthy tossed a complete game three hitter en-route to the 4-0 victory. McCarthy went the distance, yielding just three hits with one walk and one K's, while sophomore Galen Kerr gave up four runs (3 earned) and eight strikeouts for the Falcons in the setback.

Bridgewater State graved the lead in the bottom of the second innings as sophomore Samantha LaPilato doubled to right and scored on a double into the left centerfield gap by junior Karissa Pagan before Pagan crossed the plate on a throwing miscue for the 2-0 margin.

The Bears upped their advantage in the following frame when sophomore Courtney Leddy doubled to left center, moved to third on a single off the bat of McCarthy and came around to score on a base hit by senior Jessica Laudati for the 3-0 lead.

Fitchburg State threatened in the top of the fifth as junior Brianna Uga singled through the left side with one out and advanced to second on single down the left field line by Amanda Whitelaw but McCarthy retired the next two hitters to escape the jam.

The hosts added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when sophomore Jill Welch led off the inning with a single to center, moved to second a sacrifice bunt and scored on a bae knock from Leddy, resulting in the 4-0 final.

For the Falcons, Whitelaw, Uga and Kerr registered one hit each. Leddy led the Bears offense, going 3-for-4 with a double, one RBI and a run scored, while Lopilato and Pagan combined for three hits, including two doubles, two runs scored and a run batted in.

Bridgewater State 3, Fitchburg State 0 (Game 2)

In game two, Bridgewater State received another outstanding performance on the mound as McCarthy allowed five hits, two K's and one walk en-route to the complete game victory, while senior Brittany Whiting was just as solid for the Falcons, giving up three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts.

Bridgewater State broke a 0-0 stalemate in the bottom of the fifth inning as sophomore Tara McCann singled through the left side, moved to third on double from Welch and scored on a base hit through the left side off the bat of Shaffer for the 1-0 margin.

The Falcons best chance came in the top of the sixth inning when sophomore Jessalynne Brown drew a two out walk, moved to third on third on a double by Kerr but Brown was thrown out at the plate as Bridgewater State's second baseman received the cutoff throw from center field and fired a strike to plate.

The Bears upped their lead in their half of the sixth, loading the bases on singles by McCarthy and Laudati and a walk from Pagan before Welch walked to plate McCarthy and Shaffer singled in Pagan for the 3-0 game two final.

At the dish, Shaffer paced the Bears game two offense with a pair of hits and two RBI, while Wlech added to the mix a double and RBI. Sophomore Gia Ferreira led Fitchburg State offensively with a pair of hits, including a double, while Kerr added a double for the Falcons. 

Fitchburg State (11-10, 5-5 MASCAC) returns to action on Monday as it hosts the Owls of Westfield State for a double header starting at 1 p.m. Bridgewater State (17-9, 7-3 MASCAC) will host MCLA on Monday for a twin billing starting at 1 p.m.

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