Softball Sweeps Mass. Maritime in MASCAC Doubleheader

BUZZARDS BAY, Mass.  -- Senior Jennifer Shaw (Brockton, Mass.) rapped out six hits, including five for extra bases, and drove in eight runs to lead Bridgewater State to a sweep of a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference softball doubleheader from Massachusetts Maritime by scores of 25-0 in the opener and 13-0 in the nightcap in five inning games played Friday afternoon at Alison Rollins Field.

The visiting Bears (20-14, 9-3 MASCAC) sent 16 batters to the plate in taking control in the opener with a 12-run outburst in their first at-bat, as Shaw laced three doubles and drove in six runs in the lid-lifter. Sophomore Jessica Laudati (Berkley, Mass.) added a pair of hits and four RBI in the first triumph for Bridgewater State, which also received two hits and three RBI from senior Brianna DeNucci (Newton, Mass.) as well as three hits and an RBI from senior Brianna Strecker (Waterford, Conn.).  Sophomore Jocelyn Bettencourt (Plymouth, Mass.) also collected two hits as part of a 17-hit attack in the opener for the Bears.

Junior Chelsie Babcock (Wilmington, Mass.) allowed a hit and fanned one over the final three innings inside the circle to earn her first win of the season for the visitors.

Senior Janelle Beaulieu(Buzzards Bay, Mass.) lined a double in the opening setback for the host Buccaneers (0-20, 0-12 MASCAC), and she also suffered the setback on the mound.

Bridgewater State jumped out to a 7-0 second inning lead in the nightcap en route to completing its sweep, as junior Jill Welch (Hubbardston, Mass.) rapped out three hits, including an inside-the-park home run, for the Bears.  Shaw added a double and her second round-tripper of the season as well for the winners, as DeNucci also collected two safeties as part of an 11-hit attack.

Senior Meghan Dunn(Colchester, Conn.) took a no-hitter into the bottom of the fifth before it was broken up on a lead-off single off the bat of Massachusetts Maritime senior Erin Eastman (Harwich, Mass.), as Dunn fanned seven in going the distance and picking up her eighth victory of the spring.

Freshman Cassie Swanson (Quincy, Mass.), who fanned a pair in 4 2/3 innings of relief in the opener for the Buccaneers, suffered the setback on the mound in the nightcap for the hosts, as she went the first two-plus frames.

Massachusetts Maritime hosts MCLA in a season-ending Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Alison Rollins Field beginning at 1:00 p.m., while Bridgewater State heads to Framingham, Mass. on Saturday afternoon to take on Framingham State in a MASCAC twinbill that also begins at 1:00 p.m, as the Bears own a one-game lead in the league standings over MCLA and Worcester State heading into tomorrow's action.

Courtesy of Jim Seavey, Mass. Maritime Sports Information Director