White Tosses No-Hitter as Softball Sweeps MCLA

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Amber White (Middleboro, Mass.) hurled her second no-hitter of the season to lead the Bridgewater State University softball team to a MASCAC doubleheader sweep of MCLA on Monday afternoon at Alumni Park. 

The Bears (23-7, 7-1 MASCAC) posted an 8-0 decision in the opener and completed the sweep with a 12-1 victory in game two.  Both games were stopped in the fifth inning due to the eight-run mercy rule.  Bridgewater has won nine straight games and 11 of their last 12.

White, who also threw a no-hitter on Opening Day, joins Darlene Dusseault (1986) and Betsy Ahearn (2002) as the only pitchers in BSU softball history to toss a pair of no-hit games in one season.

White (12-3) allowed just a two-out walk in the second inning of game one as she retired 15 of the 16 batters she faced including eight via the strikeout.  White threw an economical 56 pitches, 44 of which were for strikes.

Melissa Harmon (Shrewsbury, Mass.) paced the Bears' offense as she belted her second home run of the season, a solo shot in the second inning.

Bridgewater took advantage of some shaky MCLA pitching and defense as the Trailblazers (4-22, 2-6 MASCAC) issued seven walks, hit a batter and committed three errors.  Three of the eight runs were unearned.

Ainsley MacDonald (White River Junction, Vt.) suffered the loss in the circle for MCLA.  MacDonald (3-15) gave up eight runs (five earned) on four hits and seven walks in 4 1/3 innings of work.  She struck out three and also hit a batter.

In game two, Bridgewater put the game away early with six runs in the first inning and three more in the second.

Meghan Dunn (Colchester, Conn.) was the beneficiary of all the run support in the circle for the Bears. Dunn (11-4) went the distance allowing just a run on three hits with a pair of walks and five strikeouts.

Defense was again an issue for the Trailblazers as the visitors committed five more errors which led to eight unearned runs.

Brianna Strecker (Waterford, Conn.)  went 1-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored to lead the BSU offense, while Jocelyn Bettencourt (Plymouth, Mass.) connected for a two-run double and also walked in her only two plate appearances.  Jennifer Shaw (Brockton, Mass.) and Penny King (Hanover, Mass.) each finished 1-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored with Shaw notching her team-leading 11th double of the season.

Kelly Pirzl (Pittsfield, Mass.) was tagged with the loss for MCLA.  Pirzl (1-3) gave up 12 runs (four earned) on eight hits and three walks while striking out four.

Bridgewater travels to Tufts University for a non-conference game with the Jumbos on Wednesday afternoon at three.  MCLA hosts non-league foe Amherst College on Wednesday at 4:30.