Softball Splits with Salem in MASCAC Twinbill

SALEM, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University softball team split a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader with Salem State University on Friday afternoon at Alumni Field.

Jen Crovo (Melrose, Mass.) went 3-for-4 with three RBI to help the host Vikings (7-7, 1-1 MASCAC) post a 12-7 win in game one. In game two, Mackenzie Holt (Gilroy, Calif.) pitched four solid innings of relief, allowing just a run on seven hits as the Bears (6-8, 1-1 MASCAC) won 6-2 to earn the split.

The doubleheader, which was originally scheduled to be played at Bridgewater State, marked the MASCAC opener for both teams.

Game 1

Tied 1-1 in the third, the Vikings plated three runs to open a 4-1 lead. A wild pitch scored the first run while Crovo knocked in two more with a base hit to center.  Kaitlyn Shaw (Lakeville, Mass.) replaced the starter Holt in the third after Holt allowed six runs on five hits.

Trailing 6-3, Bridgewater State pulled to within a run on an RBI single by Kacie Carvalho (Fairhaven, Mass.) in the third, but Salem State pitcher Meghan Black prevented further damage as she retired Samantha Mulcahy (Taunton, Mass.) with the bases loaded to keep the Vikings in front.

Salem State opened up a six-run lead, scoring four times in the fourth, Dominique Del Vecchio (Stoneham, Mass.) and Samantha Holey (Lynn, Mass.) had RBI's in the inning. The Bears left the bases full in the fifth, but Carvalho cleared the bases with a double to left center in the sixth that pulled Bridgewater State to within 11-7. Salem State added an insurance run in the seventh and Black retired the side in the final inning as Salem State took game one, 12-7.

Black went all seven innings and allowed seven runs (four earned) on 13 hits with two strikeouts. Shaw pitched five innings in relief, giving up six runs (four earned) on six hits.

Chloe Manousos (Lowell, Mass.) and Gabby Cardenas (Oxford, Mass.) had two hits and combined for three runs batted in. Carvalho finished a perfect 4-for-4 with four RBI for the Bears. She also scored a run. Alexandra Ruprecht (Kingston, Mass.), Madison Synan (Quincy, Mass.) and Courtney Gouveia (Taunton, Mass.) also recorded multiple hits for Bridgewater State. Ruprecht went 2-for-5 with an RBI double, while Synan was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and Gouveia finished 2-for-4 with a run.

Game 2

Salem State jumped on top in the first on a single by Cardenas, but two runs by the Bears on an unearned run in the bottom of the first and an RBI single off the bat of Mulcahy in the second put Bridgewater State up 2-1. An RBI groundout by Meghan Navarro (Taunton, Mass.) pushed the lead to 3-1 in the fourth. The Vikings crept to within a run in the fifth on an RBI fielder's choice by April Adams (Burlington Mass.). However, a two-run single by Carvalho and a run scoring single by Navarro iced the game in the sixth as the Bears held on for a 6-2 victory.

Holt picked up the win after replacing Shaw, who lasted three innings for the Bears and allowed a run on five hits.  Holt worked out of a base loaded, no out jam in the fourth, and stranded two runners in both the fifth and seventh innings.

Iliesh Burney (Bristol, Conn.) took the loss, going six innings and allowing six runs (one earned) on nine hits.

Carvalho (2-2, BB) and Navarro (2-4) each finished with two hits and two RBI for Bridgewater State in game two. Mulcahy went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, while Gouveia singled twice and was hit by a pitch in three trips to the plate. Gouveia also scored three runs.

Carvalho reached safely in all seven plate appearances during the doubleheader as she banged out six hits and also walked once.

Adams went 3-for-5 for the Vikings while Cardenas added two hits, including a triple.

Notes: Mulcahy extended her hitting streak to ten game, while Carvalho pushed her streak to nine games....Bridgewater State travels to UMass Boston on Saturday (noon) for a non-conference twinbill with the Beacons.