Softball Splits Twinbill with Framingham to Open MASCAC Play

By Jim Fenton

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University and Framingham State University softball teams split a doubleheader on Friday at Maple Street Field.

The Bears got four hits from junior Victoria Becker (Abington, Mass.) in the opener and defeated the Rams, 8-3.

In the second game, Framingham State scored four times in the bottom of the third inning and gained the split with an 8-4 win. The game was halted in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The games opened the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference schedule for the Bears (8-6) and the Rams (11-5).

The twinbill had originally been scheduled for Saturday afternoon but was changed due to the potential forecast of rain.

Game One: Bridgewater State 8, Framingham State 3

Becker went 4-for-5 and scored four runs from the leadoff spot to spark the BSU offense while sophomore Sydney Schaefer (Swarthmore, Pa.) had two doubles and drove in four runs.

Sophomore Olivia Hargreaves (Weare, N.H.) is now 3-2 after giving up seven hits and striking out five.

BSU held a 1-0 lead in the first as Becker led with a double to left, went to third on a groundout and scored on Schaefer's sacrifice fly.

Framingham State tied it in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly by freshman Jocelyn Pepe (LaGrangevile, N.Y.).

The Bears went in front, 4-1, in the second. senior Emily Marcotte (North Dighton, Mass.) walked and Becker singled to center, and they came in on a single to center by sophomore Makayla Ansell (Menifee, Calif.). An error in the outfield allowed Ansell to score on the play.

Framingham State came right back to get within 4-3 in the bottom of the second.

With two outs, freshman Ellie Etermad-Gilbertson (Boston, Mass.) singled and scored on a triple by senior Brooke Grassia (Danvers, Mass.) She came home on a single by senior Abby Behrikis (Mendon, Mass.).

The Bears moved in front, 6-3, in the fifth on a two-run double to left by Schaefer after Becker and Marcotte reached.

BSU added two in the seventh as Becker and Ansell singled with Schaefer deliving a run with a single and junior Angelina Lynch (Taunton, Mass.) producing a sacrifice fly.

Game Two: Framingham State 8, Bridgewater State 4 (6 Inn.)

BSU was limited to four hits -- three doubles and a home run -- by winning pitcher Sydney Bednarz (Fall River, Mass.), a freshman who is now 3-2 after striking out five.

The Bears jumped to a 2-0 lead by scoring single runs in each of the first two innings.

Ansell homered in the first inning, the first of her career and second of the season for the Bears.

In the second, sophomore Sidney Schwartz (Chelmsford, Mass.) doubled to center, went to third on a groundout and scored when Becker reached on an error.

Framingham State got one back in the second on an RBI single by freshman Ava Gray (Danvers, Mass.).

The Bears went up, 4-1, in the third on a two-run double to left by Schwartz, scoring Lynch and freshman Isabel Bishop (Lynn, Mass.).

But the Rams went ahead, 5-4, in the bottom of the inning.

A single by Behrikis and an error on the play brought in a pair of runs. Sophomore Eliza Carignan (Epsom, N.H.) had an RBI single in the inning and Pepe added a sacrifice fly.

Framingham State finished the scoring in the sixth on an RBI double by freshman Isabella MacDonald (Pittsfield, Mass.) and a two-run double by Carignan.

Following Carignan's two-run double, the game was stopped due to darkness.

Senior McKayla Cusack (West Haven, Conn.), who is 3-3, took the loss. Cusack gave up 13 hits and eight runs (seven earned) over five-plus innings

BSU will play again on Thursday when it hosts the University of Massachusetts Boston in a pair of games starting at 3 p.m.

Framingham State is off until facing UMass Boston Tuesday in a doubleheader.