Softball Splits MASCAC Twinbill with Westfield

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Bridgewater State and Westfield State spilt a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic (MASCAC) doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Alumni Park.  Westfield won the opening game, 1-0, while Bridgewater posted a 3-0 victory in game two.

Bridgewater's record now stands at 15-7 (1-1 MASCAC) with the split, while Westfield is 8-12 (2-2 MASCAC) on the season.

In game two, BSU junior right-hander Meghan Dunn (Colchester, Conn.) posted a complete game, four-hit shutout.  Dunn (7-4)  did not walk a batter and struck out five.  She allowed just two base runners to reach second in the game.

Sophomore Kerry Alcott (Groton, Mass.) suffered the loss in the circle for the visiting Owls.  Alcott (2-5) gave up three run on nine hits in five plus innings of work.  She walked three and struck out one.

The Bears plated a run in the bottom of the first as back-to-back two out singles by junior Jennifer Shaw (Brockton, Mass.) and senior Penny King (Hanover, Mass.) were followed by an RBI double off the bat of junior Brianna Strecker (Waterford, Conn.).

Bridgewater tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. The first four batters of the inning reached with sophomore Corrie McCue (New Bedford, Mass.) plating the first run on a pinch hit RBI single.  Tomich came on in relief of Alcott and retired the first hitter she faced on a harmless pop up, but then gave up an RBI single to sophomore Jasmyn McCone (Taunton, Mass.).  Tomich struck out the next two batters to avoid any further damage.

Senior Michaela Ferreira (Fall River, Mass.) paced the Bears' ten-hit attack in game two as she went 2-for-2 at the dish with a walk and runs scored.

Senior Kerin DeGirolamo (North Attleboro, Mass.) led the way for Westfield as she was 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.

In game one, Westfield senior right-hander Madeline Tomich (Alford, Mass.) outdueled BSU sophomore hurler Amber White (Middleboro, Mass.).  Tomich (5-4) tossed a complete game shutout allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out 11.  White (8-3) kept the visiting Owls off the scoreboard until the seventh as she gave up just the one run on six hits with three strikeouts.

In the top of the seventh, White retired the first two batters of the frame on routine grounders.  Freshman Vicki Hill (West Springfield, Mass.) then triple to right center on a misjudged flyball.  Molly Dunbar (Weymouth, Mass.) was hit by a pitch on a 2-2 count to put runners on first and third.  After Dunbar was nearly picked off first base, junior Brittany Dussault (Chicopee, Mass.) reached on an infield single to plate Hill with the only run of the game.

Freshman Kelsey Carpenter (Barre, Mass.) went 2-for-3 with a double in the opener to highlight the Owl offense.  Shaw had two of the Bears' three hits as she singled twice in three at bats.

Bridgewater travels to Framingham State tomorrow for a MASCAC twinbill with the Rams starting at noon.  Westfield hosts Smith College on Monday afternoon at 4:30.