Softball Advances to MASCAC Winner's Bracket Final in Walk-Off Fashion

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Emily Marcotte's (North Dighton, Mass.) walk-off two-run single with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted #2 seed Bridgewater State University to a dramatic 3-2 victory over #3 Worcester State University in the quarterfinal round of the 2023 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Softball Tournament on Friday afternoon at Alumni Park.

With the win, Bridgewater advances to the winner's bracket final as the Bears (14-26-1) will take on top-seeded Framingham State University tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM. Worcester moves to the loser's bracket with the setback. The Lancers (25-17) will take on #4 Westfield State University tomorrow afternoon at 12:30 in an elimination game. The remainder of the tournament will take place at Framingham's Maple Street Field.

The Lancers struck first in this one with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Back-to-back singles by Amanda Adamuska (Dudley, Mass.) and Jacqui Schwalm (Billerica, Mass.) followed by a sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third with one out. Abigail Koziol (Lunenburg, Mass.) reached on an error, but was credited with the RBI, as Adamuska raced home and Schwalm advanced to third. Bella Gasbarro (Leominster, Mass.) then brought home Schwalm with a sacrifice fly.

The Bears cut the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the third inning. Alicia Habib (Haverhill, Mass.) singled to lead off the frame and scored all the way from first on an RBI double to the gap in left-centerfield by Molly Thibaudeau (Lincoln, R.I.).

The score stayed that way until the bottom of the seventh. Olivia Silva (Somerset, Mass.) walked and Thibaudeau was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with one out. After a sacrifice bunt advanced the runners, Marcotte ripped a 2-2 pitch up the middle to win the game.

Madelyn Klingel (Windsor, Conn.) went the distance in the circle for the Bears to pick up her sixth win of the season. Klingel (6-12) gave up just the two runs (one earned) on five hits with no walks and three strikeouts.

Emily Bartlett (Lowell, Mass.) suffered the loss in relief of starter Sarah Gosselin (Charlton, Mass.). Barlett gave up two runs on two hits over 4 2/3 innings with three walks and six strikeouts. She also hit a batter. Gosselin allowed a run on two hits over two-plus innings with no walks and a strikeout.

Thibaudeau reached safely three times on the afternoon as she doubled, walked, and was hit by a pitch in three trips to the plate.