Softball Sweeps Doubleheader with Salem State

Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State College softball team swept a MASCAC doubleheader with Salem State College this afternoon at Alumni Park.  The Bears came away with a 6-5 win in the opener and then completed the sweep with an 11-3 victory in game two.

With the pair of wins, BSC improved to 8-12 overall and 2-0 in the MASCAC.  Salem falls to 11-13 on the season and 1-3 in MASCAC play.

Sophomore right-hander Jillian Vancelette (Charlton City, MA) picked up the win for the Bears in game one as she gave up two runs on six hits over four innings while striking out two.  Junior right-hander Alyssa Verronneau (Acushnet, MA) picked up her second save of the season as she entered the game with the tying run on third base with one out in the top of the seventh.  Verronneau induced a foul pop out and struck out the final batter of the game to end it.

Trailing 1-0, BSC pushed across three runs in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead.  Sophomore right fielder Meghan Noyes (Stoughton, MA) and senior first baseman Danielle Trull-Donahue (Stoughton, MA) knocked in a pair of runs with RBI singles, while junior center fielder Allie LeBlanc (Somerset, MA) plated a run with an RBI groundout.

After Salem pulled to within a run on an RBI double by sophomore shortstop Katie Oram (Lynn, MA) in the top of the fourth, the Bears responded with three more runs in the bottom of the frame to go ahead 6-2. With the bases loaded and one out, freshman left fielder Tracey Sanko (Windsor, CT) drove in the first run of the inning as she reached on a fielder's choice grounder to short as the Lady Vikings were unable to cut down the run at the plate. Noyes followed with a sacrifice fly to center and LeBlanc completed the scoring in the inning with an RBI single.

Salem cut into the lead with a run in the fifth as senior designated player Sarah Funk (Newport News, VA) walked moved to second on a wild pitch, to third on a ground out and scored on another wild pitch.

The Lady Vikings made things interesting in the top of the seventh as they took advantage of some shaky Bridgewater State defense.  Salem put the first two batters on thanks in part to a fielder's choice ground ball in which the Bears were unable to get an out.  After a ground out put runners on second and third, freshman Taylor Orlando (Danvers, MA) roped a single up the middle scoring two runs to cut the deficit to 7-5.  Orlando ended up at third base with the possible tying run as the errant throw to the plate got away, Verronneau, however, came in and closed the door for the Bears.

Noyes and LeBlanc finished with two RBI apiece in the opener for the Bears, while Trull-Donahue (2-for-3) and Sanko (2-for-4) had two hits each.  Sophomore catcher Amanda Scola (Leominster, MA) went 3-for-4 with two runs scored for the Lady Vikings, while sophomore first baseman Judie Garceau (Ware, MA) and sophomore center fielder Jess Baird (Worcester, MA) both finished 2-for-4.

In game two, Verronneau tossed a complete game six-hitter to improve her win-loss record to 5-4.  Verronneau struck out a season-high nine batters and did not issue a walk.

Bridgewater scored three runs in the second inning and exploded for six more in the third to put the game out of reach. The game was stopped in the sixth inning due to the eight-run mercy rule.

Junior shortstop Rachael Sprague (Duxbury, MA) had a huge performance in the nightcap as she went 4-for-4 with three doubles and three runs scored. Sanko banged out three more hits as she finished 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI.

Trull-Donahue and senior second baseman Nicole Hebert (Taunton, MA) added two hits apiece as they both went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Junior designated player Melissa McNamara (Stoughton, MA) went 2-for-3 and scored a pair of runs.

Junior pitcher Katelyn Doherty (Lynnfield, MA) suffered the loss for the Lady Vikings as she surrendered nine runs on nine hits and three walks in three full inning of work.  Six of the nine runs, however, were unearned thanks to four Salem State errors.

Scola added two more hits in game two as she went 2-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored.

Bridgewater travels to Worcester State College tomorrow afternoon for a pair of MASCAC games with the Lancers.  Game one of the doubleheaders begins at 4:30.