Softball Captures Share of MASCAC Regular Season Title

Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. - The Bridgewater State College softball team captured a share of the MASCAC regular season title as the Bears swept a doubleheader versus Worcester State College this afternoon at Alumni Park in Bridgewater.

BSC has won or shared the MASCAC regular season title in each of the last 14 seasons and 23 times overall.

Bridgewater (25-9, 10-2 MASCAC) took the opening game of the twinbill by a score of 8-0 with the game being called after the top of the fifth inning due to the eight-run mercy rule.  The Bears completed the sweep with a 3-2 victory in the nightcap.

In game one, junior Jamie Ducinski (Duxbury, MA) hurled four shutout innings in the circle for the Bears.  Ducinski (6-1) scattered four hits, walked one and struck out four.

Bridgewater scored in all four innings they came to bat.  The Bears plated four runs in the first on a two-run double by senior Allie LeBlanc (Somerset, MA) followed by two-run home run from fellow senior Rachael Sprague (Duxbury, MA). 

A run scoring single by sophomore Heather McPherson (Mansfield, MA) gave Bridgewater a 5-0 lead after two.  BSC made it 6-0 in the third as LeBlanc scored all the way from first on a double by Sprague.

The Bears rounded out the scoring in the fourth as junior Lauren Cucinotta (Franklin, MA) drove in two runs with a base hit.

LeBlanc finished 3-for-3 in game one with two runs and two RBI.  Sprague was 2-for-3 a run and three RBI, while sophomore Tracey Sanko (Windsor, CT) went 2-for-3 and scored two runs.

Senior Stephanie Pierce (Worcester, MA) pitched a scoreless fifth inning retiring all three batters she faced in relief of Ducinski.

In game two, senior Alyssa Verronneau (Acushnet, MA) outdueled Worcester State sophomore Michaella Mahoney (Shrewsbury, MA) as the Bears' edged the Lancers, 3-2, to complete the sweep.

Verronneau (11-4) went the distance allowing two runs on four hits.  She struck out seven batters, walked one and hit two.  Mahoney (8-9) gave up three runs (two earned) on eight hits with no walks and three strikeouts.

Bridgewater jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first.  Sanko reached on an error to lead off the inning, stole second and third and scored on an infield single by McPherson.  McPherson would move to second on a sacrifice bunt and came around to score on LeBlanc's RBI single.

The Lancers answered with two runs in the top of the second.  With two outs, sophomore Karen Feeley (W. Springfield, MA) was hit by a pitch to start the rally.  Back-to-back singles by sophomore Ashley Loomer (Pepperell, MA) and freshman Ashley Howe (Winchendon, MA) loaded the bases.  Freshman Lauren Besozzi (Milford, MA) then lined a single up the middle to plate two runs and tied the game up at 2-2.

BSC pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the third. With one out, LeBlanc singled and moved to second on an infield hit by Sprague.  After a strikeout, junior Meghan Noyes (Stoughton, MA) lined a single to right field scoring LeBlanc from second.

Worcester threatened in the top of the sixth putting runners on second and third with only one out.  Verronneau got a big strikeout for the second out of the inning and then induced a ground out to short to end the inning.

LeBlanc went 2-for-3 in game two with a run and an RBI.  With five hits in the doubleheader, LeBlanc raised her batting average to an even .500.  She has 15 runs batted in over the last eight games and 45 on the season.

Sanko was 1-for-3 with three stolen bases and a run scored in game two.  Her three steals gives her 31 on the season as she continues to add on to her school single-season record.  Noyes finished 2-for-3 with the big game-winning RBI.

Bridgewater will be seeded second in next week's MASCAC Tournament.  The Bears will host third-seeded Framingham State College in opening round action next Thursday.  Worcester (10-21-1, 4-8 MASCAC) could still get in a spot in the tournament depending on the outcome of today's doubleheader between Salem State College and MCLA.