Falcons And Bears Split MASCAC Double Header

Falcons drop 2-0 decision in game one; Register 7-2 win in the nightcap

FITCHBURG, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University softball team registered a split with the Bears of Bridgewater State in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action this afternoon at the Donna-Lee Withington Memorial Softball Field. The Bears took game one, 2-0 before the Falcons rebounded with a 7-2 victory in the nightcap.

Bridgewater State 2, Fitchburg State 0 (Game 1)

In the opening contest, Bridgewater State junior hurler Kelly McCarthy outdueled Fitchburg State freshman Kaylee Sylvestre. McCarthy went the distance for the Bears, allowing six hits with five K's to pick up the win, while Sylvestre took the loss, giving up two runs on seven hits with one strikeout.

Bridgewater State took the lead in the top of the first as junior Samantha LoPilato walked, moved to second on single from classmate Tara McCann and scored on a base hit through the left side off the bat of McCarthy for the 1-0 margin.

Fitchburg State nearly knotted the score in the bottom of the second when sophomore Emily Comtois and junior Jessalynne Brown opened the stanza with back-to-back singles, but McCarthy worked out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts and a ground out to preserve the 1-0 lead.

The Bears doubled their advantage in the top seventh as sophomore Kristina Flaherty singled to left before pinch runner Brittany Cullinane stole second, moved to third on base hit from junior Jackie Welch and crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly to center by newcomer Jenny Heller, resulting in the 2-0 final.

Fitchburg State was led by senior Marissa Gemma, who finished 2-for-4 at the dish, while Comtois added a pair of hits for the Green and Gold. Welch paced the Bears offense, going 2-for-3 in game one, while freshman Kacie Carvalho registered a pair of hits for the visitors as well.

Fitchburg State 7, Bridgewater State 2 (Game 2)

In game two, Gemma sparked the Falcons offense, going 2-for-3 with double, one run scored and a pair of RBI, while senior Brianna Uga and freshman Maddie Medina combined for two hits, one run scored and two RBI.

LoPilato paced the Bears in the night cap, hitting 2-for-3, including a pair of doubles, one run scored and one run batted in, while McCarthy Flaherty, Welch and Carvalho picked up one hit each for Bridgewater State.

Fitchburg State opened the scoring in the bottom of the first as Gemma doubled to left center, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and fielding miscue, which allowed Sylvestre to reach before Gemma and Sylvestre scored on a wild pitching and throwing miscue for the 2-0 advantage.

The Green and Gold doubled its margin (4-0) in the bottom of the fourth frame when senior Tori Cyrus singled, moved to second on sacrifice bunt before coming around to score on a fielding miscue, while Medina plated Brownlater in the stanza.

The Bears cut into the deficit in the top of the sixth as Carvalho singled and moved to second on throwing miscue, while LoPilato doubled home Carvalho before McCarthy delivered run scoring single to left to make the score 4-2.

The Falcons added some insurance in the bottom half of the sixth however when Uga singled to drive in newcomer Damari Grossi, while Gemma laced a clutch two-run single up the middle to plate freshman Samantha Holey and Medina, resulting in the 7-2 game two final.

In circle, junior Galen Kerr earned the win for Fitchburg State, allowing two runs on six hits and five strikeouts, while junior Kathleen Bailey took the loss, yielding seven runs (1 earned) on seven hits with four K's for the Bears.

Fitchburg State (15-11, 5-3 MASCAC) will be back in action on Thursday as hosts the Bison of Nichols College for a double header, starting at 3 p.m. Bridgewater State (15-13, 5-3 MASCAC) will host Curry College on Thursday for a twin-billing for a 3 pm start.

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