Softball Sweeps MCLA in MASCAC Twinbill

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University softball team swept a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader with visiting MCLA on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Park. The twinbill marked the conference opener for both teams.

Bridgewater won the first game, 16-3, and completed the sweep with an 11-3 victory in the nightcap. Both games went just five innings due to the eight-run mercy rule.

The Bears improve to 9-10-1 (2-0 MASCAC) on the season, while the Trailblazers fall to 2-13 (0-2 MASCAC). Bridgewater has won each of the last ten meetings of the two teams and are 68-13 versus the Trailblazers since 1984.

Game One: Bridgewater State 16, MCLA 3 (5 Inn.)

Senior right fielder Emma Healy (Plymouth, Mass.) and senior shortstop Megan Sharon (East Longmeadow, Mass.) each finished with four hits to pace the Bears' season-high 19-hit attack in game one. Healy went 4-for-5 with a triple, two runs and two RBI, while Sharon was 4-for-5 at the plate with a double, three runs and a career-high five runs batted in.

The BSU offense exploded for 12 runs in the second inning to put the game out of reach. The Bears sent 17 batters to plate in the frame with seven different players recording hits and six driving in runs. Healy notched an RBI triple and RBI single in the inning, while Sharon connected for an RBI single and two-run double. Graduate centerfielder Alexandra Ruprecht (Kingston, Mass.) knocked in two runs in the frame with a sacrifice fly and RBI double. The run scoring double marked Ruprecht's 100th RBI of her career.

Junior catcher Madison Dana (Lynn, Mass.), sophomore pitcher Madelyn Klingel (Windsor, Conn.) and sophomore designated player Madison Flamme (Bethel, Conn.) also registered multiple hits in game one for the Bears. Dana went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI, while Klingel singled twice in four at bats, scored a run and drove in one. Flamme went 2-for-3 with a double, walk, two runs and an RBI.

Klingel also picked up her second win of the season in a complete game effort in the circle. Klingel (2-1) gave up three runs (one earned) on seven hits over five innings with three walks and five strikeouts.

Freshman second baseman Madyson Torres (Dripping Springs, Texas) went 3-for-3 with an RBI double to pace the MCLA offense in game one. Freshman shortstop Lidia Flores (Menifee, Calif.) and sophomore first baseman Justina Pardi (Niskayuna, N.Y.) added two hits apiece for the Trailblazers. Flores scored two runs and Pardi knocked in one.

Game Two: Bridgewater State 11, MCLA 3 (5 Inn.)

The Bears continued to swing the bat well in game two banging out 15 hits to go along with three walks.

Sophomore first baseman Ava Novakoski (Auburn, Mass.) reached safely in each of her three plate appearances with a pair of singles and walk. Novakoski scored a pair of runs and drove in three. Ruprecht went 3-for-4 with a double, a stolen base, a run and two RBI, while right fielder Molly Thibaudeau (Lincoln, R.I.) singled and walked twice in four plate appearances, stole three bases, scored two runs and knocked in two.

Freshman third baseman Emily Marcotte (North Dighton, Mass.) and freshman second baseman Amelia Blake (Raynham, Mass.) also finished with multiple hits for the Bears in the nightcap. Marcotte went 2-for-4 with a stolen base, run and RBI, while Blake was 2-for-4 at the plate with a double, two runs and an RBI.

Freshman pitcher McKayla Cusack (West Haven, Conn.) picked up her second win in the circle in the complete game effort. Cusack (2-1) allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits with no walks and five strikeouts.

Freshman third baseman Lora Woyton (Attleboro, Mass.) went 2-for-3 with a home run to highlight the MCLA offense in game two. Flores (2-3, R) also recorded multiple hits for the Trailblazers.

Both teams are back in action on Tuesday afternoon at three o'clock. The Bears host a non-conference doubleheader with Curry College, while the Trailblazers entertain Skidmore College in a non-league twinbill.