Softball Rallies for MASCAC Sweep of Salem

By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University softball team used a dramatic rally to complete a doubleheader sweep Tuesday afternoon.

After winning the opener against Salem State University, 10-7, at Alumni Park, the Bears overcame an 8-0 deficit and defeated the Vikings, 9-8, in the second game at Alumni Park.

A three-run double to left field by freshman Sydney Schaefer (Swarthmore, Pa.) with one out in the sixth inning capped the rally as BSU scored five runs in the frame.

The doubleheader had started on Saturday, but the first game was halted in the top of the sixth inning due to rain. When it resumed, the Bears were in front, 9-7, and they added a run in the bottom of the inning.

BSU (12-10 overall) is now 3-1 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference and will travel to Fitchburg State University for a doubleheader Saturday at noon.

Salem State (8-10) dropped to 4-2 in the conference and will host St. Joseph's of Connecticut in a doubleheader Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Game Two: Bridgewater State 9, Salem State 8

The Vikings scored all eight of their runs in the first three innings, but the Bears started their rally with two runs in the fourth and added two more in the fifth.

BSU finished the comeback by scoring five times in the sixth on four hits and took advantage of a pair of Salem State errors.

Angelina Lynch (Taunton, Mass.) scored the first run of the inning as she reached on an error, went to second on a walk and to third on a groundout before coming home on a bunt single by Olyvia Mendonca (Taunton, Mass.).

Mendonca stole second and scored on a single up the middle by Emily Marcotte (North Dighton, Mass.). A single by Makayla Ansell (Menifee, Calif.) and a fielder's choice by Janet Jolly (Raynham, Mass.) loaded the bases for Schaefer, who put BSU on top for the first time in the game.

Winning pitcher Mendonca (4-1) worked 5 1/3 innings of relief, allowing a run and five hits.

Jolly, Schaefer and Kyleah Plumb (Taunton, Mass.) had two hits each for BSU, which finished with 11 hits as well as seven stolen bases. Jolly and Schaefer each stole two bases.

Payton Jeffers (Holly Ridge, N.C.0 led Salem State with a 3-for-3 performance while Alaina Giuliano (Malden, Mass.) went 2-for-2.

The Vikings took a 2-0 lead in the first with Paige Souza (New Bedford, Mass.) delivering a two-run double to right-center, scoring Giuliano and Isabella Perrotti (Winthrop, Mass.).

Salem State moved in front, 7-0, in the second as Perrotti drove in a run with a fielder's choice and Samantha Gaona (Billerica, Mass.) walked with the bases loaded. Dawn Eisnor (Medford, Mass.) added a three-run double to right.

The Vikings' final run came in the third on a Perrotti single to left-center, scoring Allison Frost (Auburn, Mass.).

BSU got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning when Katie Tobin (Chestnut Hill, Mass.) singled up the middle for two runs, making it 8-2.

In the fifth, the Bears scored twice after the first two batters made outs.

Jolly singled through the right side and stole second and Schaefer singled to left and stole second, putting two in scoring position.

A passed ball made it 8-3 and a single to left by Plumb cut the deficit to four, setting up the game-winning rally in the sixth.

Salem State made four errors in the game after committing six miscues in the opener. Only two of the Bears' nine runs were earned.

Game One: Bridgewater State 10, Salem State 7

Olivia Hargreaves (3-2) was the winning pitcher, giving up a run and five hits with seven strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings of relief.

The Bears fell behind, 1-0, in the top of the first when Gaona singled to right, scoring Giuliano, who had walked and moved up on a groundout.

BSU took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first as Marcotte reached on a bunt single and stole second before scoring on a triple to right by Ansell. A groundout by Jolly brought in Ansell.

Salem State tied the game in the second as Eisnor singled to left and eventually scored on a groundout by Jeffers.

BSU moved back in front, 4-2, in the second inning as Ansell's single up the middle scored Kailey Collins-Fiore (LaGrange, N.Y.), who had doubled, and Marcotte, who reached when a throw was mishandled.

The Vikings closed to 4-3 in the third as Gaona was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on a single to center by Eisnor.

Salem State then took a 7-4 lead by scoring four runs in the fourth.

Jeffers doubled to left and scored on two wild pitches for the first run. Giuliano reached on an infield hit, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a single to right-center by Perrotti.

Souza tripled to right for a run and Emily Henning (Grafton, Mass.) doubled to left-center.

The Bears answered with a three-run fourth inning for a 7-7 tie.

Lynch singled, stole second and scored on a pair of errors. After Tobin walked, pinch runner Savanah DuBois (New Bedford,
Mass.) stole second and scored on an error. Jolly brought in a run with a groundout.

The Bears broke the tie in the fifth inning with two runs.

Victoria Becker (Abington, Mass.) doubled to left and Riley Fitzgerald (Swansea, Mass.) walked. Becker was out at third on a fielder's choice by Lynch, and with two outs, Collins-Fiore singled to center to score Fitzgerald.

Lynch stole third base and scored on a throw.

The only run scored when the game resumed came in the sixth with two outs.

Schaefer singled to right and pinch runner Mendonca advanced on a wild pitch and stolen base before scoring on a double to left by Becker.

McKayla Cusack (West Haven, Conn.) started for BSU and worked into fourth inning.

Becker went 3-for-4 with two doubles for BSU while Ansell (three RBI), Marcotte and Collins-Fiore had two hits each.

Salem State received two hits each from Gaona and  Eisnor.

Notes: Marcotte officially recorded her 100th career hit with the completion of game one of the doubleheader.