Softball Sweeps MASCAC Twinbill from Fitchburg

FITCHBURG, Mass. -- The Fitchburg State softball team dropped a pair of games to the Bears of Bridgewater State University, falling 2-1 in game one and 9-1 in game two, in MASCAC action this afternoon.

Sophomore Amber White (Middleboro, Mass.) out dueled senior Allison Cousins (Leominster, Mass.) as Bridgewater State edged Fitchburg State 2-1 in game one.

Freshman Jessica Laudati (Berkley, Mass.) broke a 0-0 tie in the top of the fifth inning, connecting for a pinch hit RBI double for a Bears' 1-0 lead. Bridgewater State doubled their lead (2-0) in the following inning on a Fitchburg State error, but the Falcons got their run back in the bottom of the sixth as freshman Kayla Philbrick (Chicopee, Mass.) stole second and came around to score to a throwing error.

Bridgewater State held off the Fitchburg State comeback however as White was able to retire the Falcons in the seventh to secure the victory. Leading the way offensively for Bridgewater State was junior Jordan McDermott (E. Bridgewater, Mass.) who notched a pair of singles. Junior Brianna Strecker (Waterford, Conn.) and senior Michaela Ferreira (Fall River, Mass.) were also solid with two hits apiece.

Paving the way for Fitchburg State was freshman Victoria Brinkley (Durham, Conn.) who finished 2-for-3, while sophomore Marissa Binnall (Fitchburg, Mass.) and classmate Shannon Fitzgerald (Blackstone, Mass.) added one hit apiece.

White picked up the win for Bridgewater State, allowing one unearned run on six hits while striking out five. Cousins suffered the setback for Fitchburg State, giving up two runs (one earned) on nine hits while fanning three.

Bridgewater State erupted for nine runs on 12 hits in game two as it completed the MASCAC sweep, 9-1 in the nightcap.

Leading the charge for Bridgewater State were McDermott, going a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a double, triple and three RBI, and junior Jennifer Shaw (Brockton, Mass.), who finished 2-for-4 with a homerun, one run scored and a pair of RBI.

Fitchburg State received another strong offensive effort from Brinkley, who hit 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Fitzgerald chipped in with a pair of singles.

The Bears jumped out to quick 1-0 lead in the opening frame on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Ferreira, before extending their lead to 7-0 with a six run, second inning. McDermott capped the Bridgewater State rally with a two-run triple, while Shaw added a two-run homerun. The Bears made it 8-0 in the sixth inning, before Fitchburg State got on the board with a single run in the bottom of the frame.

Junior Meghan Dunn (Colchester, Conn.) earned the win for Bridgewater State, allowing one run on eight hits (8 K's). Freshman Brittany Whiting (Sharon, Mass.) took the loss for Fitchburg State, yielding nine runs (six earned) on 12 hits (5 K's).

Fitchburg State (9-19, 2-4 MASCAC) travels to Mass. Maritime on Monday for a double header starting at 12 p.m. Bridgewater State (21-7, 5-1 MASCAC) will be back in action Monday as it hosts MCLA for a twin billing at 1 p.m.