Softball Splts MASCAC Twinbill with Westfield

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State University and Bridgewater State University split a softball doubleheader in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference opening-week action on Friday, March 29.

In the first game, Kelsey Carpenter rapped an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Owls a 3-2 victory. Bridgewater posted a 6-0 triumph in the second game.

The first game had plenty of dramatics as Bridgewater tied the score at 2-2 with two outs in the top of the seventh inning when cleanup batter Jessica Laudati lined a two-run homer on an 0-1 pitch to straightaway center field.

Despite the stunning circuit shot, Westfield regrouped to score the winning run in its final at bat. Amanda Flower led off with a single thru the right side and was sacrificed to second base by Emilie Manna, who reached safely on an error at first base.

Manna was retired at second on Celina Sinico's fielder's choice grounder to place runners at first and third with one out. Carpenter then delivered her game-winning hit with the count full, slapping a single past the second baseman.

Kelley Fluet picked up the big pitching victory for Westfield. The sophomore righty scattered 11 hits, walked three and struck out five.

Losing pitcher Meghan Dunn allowed nine hits and fanned five.

Carpenter was 2 for 4 with two RBI, including an infield RBI single in the first inning. Leadoff batter Courtney Begin was 2 for 4. The Owls scored an unearned run in the second inning on two hits and two errors.

Designated hitter Jill Welch was 3 for 4 for the Bears and Courtney Gregoire was 2 for 4 with a double.

In the nightcap, Amber White hurled a five-hit shutout with no walks and six strikeouts.

The Bears scored an unearned run in the second inning and took a 2-0 lead on Laudati's fifth-inning sacrifice fly. The visitors tacked on two runs in the sixth and scored twice in the seventh on back-to-back homers by Welch and Gregoire.

Welch also pounded a double and scored two runs. She finished the day with five hits in eight at bats. Jocelyn Bettencourt belted two hits in both games for the Bears for a total of four hits in six plate appearances.

Sinico collected two of Westfield's five hits.