Reichert Leads Softball to MASCAC Sweep of Salem

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Kelley Reichert (Milford, Mass.) 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 Salem State University on Thursday afternoon at Alumni Park. The Bears won the opener in five innings, 10-0, and completed the sweep with a 3-0 victory in game two.

The Bears improve to 4-7-1 on the season and 3-2-1 in the MASCAC, while the visiting Vikings fall to 2-8 overall and 2-4 in conference play.

Game One

Reichert tossed a complete game three-hit shutout to lead the Bears to the 10-0 victory. Reichert threw just 53 pitches, did not issue a walk and fanned two.

The game was stopped in the fifth inning due to the eight-run mercy rule.

Bridgewater State pushed across six runs in the bottom of the second inning to jump out to the lead. The Bears took advantage of a key Salem error in the frame as four of the six runs were unearned. Ava Novakoski (Auburn, Mass.) got the Bears on the board with an RBI single and Janet Jolly (Raynham, Mass.) followed with a bases loaded walk. A Viking miscue accounted for the third run and Emma Healy (Plymouth, Mass.) added an RBI groundout to make it a 4-0 game. A two-run triple to left-center off the bat of Reichert put the finishing touches on the six-run inning.

The Bears tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Megan Sharon (East Longmeadow, Mass.) doubled home a run, Healy added an RBI bunt single, and Alexandra Ruprecht (Kingston, Mass.) capped of the scoring with a two-run single.

Ruprecht paced the Bears' nine-hit attack in game one as she went 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI. Jolly singled and walked in two plate appearances, scored two runs and drove in one. Healy (1-3) crossed the plate twice and knocked in two.

Grace DuBois (Newton, N.H.) was saddled with the loss in the circle for the Vikings. DuBois (1-4) allowed ten runs (six earned) on eight hits with a pair of walks and three strikeouts.

Game Two

Reichert blanked the Vikings again in game two as she tossed a four-hitter. Reichert (4-5) issued a pair of walks, fanned five and stranded six runners on base as she recorded her fifth career shutout.

The game was scoreless threw 4 ½ innings of play when the Bears took advantage of two Salem errors in the bottom of the fifth to push across three unearned runs. Bridgewater loaded the bases with nobody out on a double by Novakoski, a bunt single off the bat of Kerrin McLaughlin (Haverhill, Mass.) and a infield single by Jolly. After a fielder's choice ground out cut down Novakoski at the plate, a key fielding error on a ball hit back to the circle allowed McLaughlin to score the first run of the game. Following a strikeout, Madison Dana (Lynn, Mass.) reached on an infield error allowing Jolly and Molly Thibaudeau (Lincoln, R.I.) to score and give the Bears a 3-0 lead.

Novakoski went 2-for-3 with a double to highlight the BSU offense in game two.

Emily Carter (Warwick, R.I.) pitched well in the setback for Salem State. Carter (0-3) gave up three unearned runs on five hits over 4 2/3 innings with one walk and a pair of strikeouts.

Rebecca Walker (Lynn, Mass.) went 2-for-3 to pace the Vikings at the plate.

Up Next: The two teams meet up again on Saturday up in Salem with game one of the non-conference doubleheader getting underway at noon.