Salem State Takes A Pair From Fitchburg State

Falcons drop opener, 11-3, clipped 1-0 in the nightcap

SALEM, Mass. – The Fitchburg State softball dropped a pair of Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) games to the Vikings of Salem State University in a MASCAC double header at Alumni Field this afternoon.

Salem State 11, Fitchburg State 3 (Game 1)

 
The Falcons dented the scoreboard in the second inning to jump out to an early 2-0 lead. Freshman Emily Comtois and sophomore Galen Kerr led off the inning with consecutive hits that allowed Comtois to score on a Vikings' error before Kerr later crossed the plate for the Falcons' second run on a ground out to short by senior Amanda Whitelaw.

In the following frame, Comtois upped Fitchburg State's lead as the first-year Falcon plated junior Marissa Gemma with a sacrifice fly to centerfield to make the score 3-0. However, Salem State's offense exploded for six runs in the bottom of the third on four straight hits and a walk, including a Molly McLean single that scored Marisa Sanchez and Katelyn Doherty.
 
With the score 6-3, the Vikings put the game away in the bottom of the fourth with another explosive inning at the dish. Sanchez and Jenn Toussaint brought in two runs apiece with hits that allowed Salem State, resulting in the 11-3 game one victory.

Toussaint led the Vikings with four runs batted in on two hits while McLean brought in three runs off two hits as well. Gemma paced Fitchburg State's offense, going 2-for-3 with one run scored, while Comtois added a double and one RBI.

In the circle, Rachel Cyr earned the win for the Salem State, allowing three runs (1 earned) on six hits, while Kerr took the loss for the Falcons, giving up 11 runs on 11 hits and five K's. 

Salem State 1, Fitchburg State 0 (Game Two)

After combining for 17 hits in game one, a pitcher's duel highlighted game two as senior Brittany Whiting and Megan Black squared off. Black picked up the win of the Vikings, yielding just five with a pair of strikeout, while Whiting suffer the setback, allowing just one run on six hits (8 K's).
 
Whiting and Black matched each other pitch for pitch through the first five innings of play, until, Salem State finally broke a 0-0 deadlock in the bottom of the sixth inning as Rebecca Krigman tripled to bring in Courtney Kilgore for the games' only run to secure the sweep for the Vikings.

Senior Marissa Binnall paced the Falcons game two efforts, going 2-for-3 with a stolen base, while Comtois, Whitelaw and sophomore Gia Ferreira collected the other three hits for Fitchburg State. Sanchez led the way for Salem State, hitting 2-for-3, while Jess Raymond added a double for the Vikings.

Fitchburg State (11-15, 5-7 MASCAC) returns to action tomorrow as it hosts the Owls of Westfield State University for a double header starting at 12 p.m. Salem State (18-14, 7-5 MASCAC) will visit MCLA tomorrow for a double header starting at 1 p.m.

Portions of release courtesy of Salem State SID Office

Follow the Falcons on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!