McCarthy Hurls Pair of Shutouts as Softball Sweeps Fitchburg State

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Sophomore right-hander Kelly McCarthy tossed a pair of complete game shutouts to lead the Bridgewater State University softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) rival Fitchburg State University on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Park.

The Bears posted a 4-0 victory in the opener and completed the sweep with a 3-0 win in game two.

The Bears improve to 17-9 on the season and 7-3 in the MASCAC, while the visiting Falcons slip to 11-10 overall and 5-5 in conference play.

McCarthy (6-2) tossed a three-hitter in game one with a walk and strikeout. She scattered five hits with a walk and a pair of strikeouts in the nightcap.

Bridgewater State grabbed the lead in the bottom of the second innings as sophomore Samantha LaPilato doubled to right and scored on a double into the left centerfield gap by junior Karissa Pagan. Pagan would cross the plate on an infield throwing error for the 2-0 margin.

The Bears upped their advantage to 3-0 in the third when sophomore Courtney Leddy doubled to left center, moved to third on McCarthy's base hit and came around to score on a bunt single off the bat of senior Jessica Laudati.

The hosts added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when sophomore Jackie Welch led off the inning with a single to center, moved to second a sacrifice bunt and scored on a base knock from Leddy.

Leddy went 3-for-4 at the dish with a double, a run and and RBI to highlight the Bears' 11-hit attack. McCarthy (2-for-4) and LoPilato (2-for-3) added two hits apiece.

Sophomore Galen Kerr gave up four runs (three earned) on 11 hits and a walk with eight strikeouts for the Falcons in the setback.

In game two, Bridgewater State broke a 0-0 stalemate in the bottom of the fifth inning as sophomore Tara McCann singled through the left side, moved to third on double from Welch and scored on a base hit through the left side off the bat of Shaffer for the 1-0 margin.

In the top of the fifth, it looked as though the Falcons were the ones who had taken the 1-0 lead when sophomore Gia Ferreira hit an apparent home run over the left field fence. Ferreira, however, missed home plate and was called out on the appeal.  

The Bears upped their lead in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases on singles by McCarthy and Laudati and a walk from Pagan before Welch walked to plate McCarthy and Shaffer singled in Pagan for the 3-0 game two final.

At the dish, Shaffer paced the Bears game two offense with a pair of hits and two RBI, while Welch added a double and RBI to the mix.

Ferreira led Fitchburg State offensively with a double and triple in three at bats.

Senior Brittany Whiting gave up three runs on seven hits and two walks with three strikeouts in the loss.

The MASCAC schedule continues for both teams on Monday afternoon. The Bears entertain MCLA in a twinbill at noon, while the Falcons host a doubleheader with Westfield State University at one.