Falcons Split MASCAC Twin Bill With Vikings

Marshall and Cahill lead Green and Gold to conference split

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University softball team split a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) double header with the Vikings of Salem State University this afternoon from the Donna-Lee Withington Memorial Softball Field as the Vikings took the opener 14-6 before the Falcons secured the split with an 8-3 triumph in the night cap.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 6, Salem State 14 (Game One)

Score: Fitchburg State 8, Salem State 3 (Game Two)

Records: Fitchburg State (10-11, 2-2 MASCAC) I Salem State (5-15, 1-3 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Game One

Salem State took an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first as sophomore Mackenzie DeSantis (Ridge, N.Y.) laced a three-run triple to left field before classmate Payton Jeffers (Holly Ridge, N.Y.) followed with a run scoring double to right field.

The Vikings upped their advantage in the top of the second with junior Rebecca Walker (Lynn, Mass.) connecting on a single up the middle to plate senior Sydney Chiassson (Hudson, Mass.), while DeSanits added an RBI single to make the score 6-0

Fitchburg State trimmed the lead to 7-4 in the bottom of the fourth when sophomore Dana Cisowski (Torrington, Conn.) doubled to left field to bring in senior Lundyn Forcier (Woonsocket, R.I.), while freshman Julia Gauvin (Granby, Mass.) notched a two-run single to center field that scored classmate Ella Marshall (Gloucester, Mass.) and junior Molly Grass (Rockland, Mass.).

The visitors upped the lead to 14-4 in the top of the sixth with DeSantis launching a three-run home run to left and senior Hannah Magee (Salem, Mass.) registering a two-run single to right center. The Green and Gold answered in their half of the sixth as senior Audrey Johnson (Fitchburg, Mass.) notched a sacrifice fly and newcomer Isabella Sousa (Charlton, Mass.) driving in Gauvin with an RBI ground out, resulting in the 14-6, game one final.

Inside the Numbers

• Gauvin led the way for the Falcons, hitting 4-for-4 with a double, one run scored and two RBI
• DeSantis went 3-for-4 with a home run, double, two runs scored and seven RBI for the Vikings
• Sophomore Mary Kate Moreau (Berkley, Mass.) allowed eight runs (4 earned) on eight hits with two K's in four innings of work for Fitchburg State
• Sophomore Emily Carter (Warwick, R.I.) collected the win for Salem State, giving up six runs (4 earned) on 13 hits with two strikeouts

Game Two

In game two, Fitchburg State opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with Grass blasting a solo shot over the left field fence for the 1-0 edge. Salem State knotted the score at 1-1 in the top of the second as Magee reached on a fielder's choice that scored junior Isabella Perotti (Winthrop, Mass.).

The Falcons regained the lead in the bottom half of the second stanza when Cisowski singled to center left field to bring home Forcier before Marshall laced a two-run single through the left side that plated Cisowski and freshman Kiara Bigeau (Clinton, Mass.) to make the score 4-1.

The Green and Gold upped its advantage in the bottom of the third on RBI singles off the bat of Forcier and junior Sarah Cahill (Mansfield, Mass.) for the 6-2 margin. Fitchburg State would secure the victory in the bottom of the fifth when Grass connected on an RBI double to right, while Marshall followed with a run scoring triple to right center resulting in the 8-3, game two final.

Inside the Numbers

• 89th meeting between the two teams in softball with the Falcons 41-48 vs the Vikings
• Marshall paced Fitchburg State's game two offense, hitting 2-for-4 with a triple and three RBI
• For Salem State, freshman Dawn Eisnor (Medford, Mass.) finished 2-of-4 with a double and one RBI
• Cahill collected the win for the Falcons, yielding three runs (2 earned) on seven hits with five punchouts in the complete game effort.
• Senior Grace Hogan (Blackstone, Mass.) took the loss for the Vikings, allowing six runs on 12 hits over three innings of work.

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Tuesday as they travel to Dean College to take on the Bulldogs in a non-conference double header, starting at 3:00 PM. Vikings will host the Huskies of Southern Maine on Wednesday for a non-conference twin bill at 3:00 PM.