Softball Splits MASCAC Twinbill with Salem

SALEM, Mass. -- Salem State dropped their opening game to Bridgewater State, 3-2, but came back to defeat the Bears in game two, 3-1, to clinch a playoff spot in the upcoming MASCAC postseason tournament.

The Lady Vikings improved to 23-17 and 8-6 in conference play while Bridgewater State goes to 14-20 overall and 6-6 in the MASCAC.

Bridgewater would clinch a spot in the MASCAC Tournament with a sweep of MCLA tomorrow afternoon in North Adams. A loss in either of the two games and the Bears would be eliminated.

In game one, Jenifer Shaw's (Brockton, MA) two-run homer in the third inning gave Bridgewater State a three-run lead that they would not relinquish in a 3-2 victory over Salem State.

Meghan Dunn (Colchester, CT) earned the victory allowing two runs on seven hits for the Bears. Tracey Sanko (Windsor, CT) picked up the one-out save.

Lauren DiCredico (Tewksbury, MA) started on the mound for the Lady Vikings and took the loss in game one. DiCredico allowed three runs on four hits and notched four strikeouts over 2 2/3-innings. Nicole Wilson (Peabody, MA) came on in relief. Wilson held the Bears scoreless over 4 1/3-innings and struck out three.

In the third inning Shanna Lathrop (Hopedale, MA) doubled to deep left to drive in Sanko for the first run of the game. Two batters later, Shaw stepped up to the plate and drove the ball deep over the left field fence for the 3-0 lead.

The Lady Vikings did not let the ship go down quietly. In the bottom of the seventh inning, DiCredico hit a two-out single through the middle of the infield that drove in Gabbie Vitale (Danvers, MA). Jenna Lentine (Methuen, MA) took Dunn to a full count and delivered with an infield single to score DiCredico. Bears head coach Lori Salvia called on Sanko to record the final out of the game with two runners on and two outs and the MASCAC's leading slugger in Taylor Orlando (Danvers, MA) at the plate. Sanko got Orlando to pop out to second on the first pitch of the at-bat to close out the game.

DiCredico went two-for-three with an RBI and a run scored for the Lady Vikings.
 
In game two, Katelynn Fanning (East Boston, MA) notched her eighth win of the year allowing just one run on three hits as Salem State earned a 3-1 victory and earned a split with the Bears.

Fanning struck out a game-high nine batters and walked four.

The Lady Vikings scored twice in the opening inning to take a 2-0 lead. Orlando and Michelle Grifoni (Peabody, MA) each tripled to plate the first run, and Lauren Garchinsky (Saugus, MA) singled home Grifoni with the Lady Vikings second run.

Paige Flemming (Methuen, MA) gave Salem State a three-run lead on a sacrifice bunt that scored Grifoni who had walked. in the third. 

Bridgewater State cut the lead to 3-1 on an RBI fielder's choice by Brianna Strecker (Waterford, MA) in the sixth inning.

Sanko got the start and allowed five hits and three runs with three strikeouts. Dunn relieved Sanko and pitched two innings of scoreless relief for the Bears.

Strecker finished 2-for-3 with a double and RBI for Bridgewater State, which ends their regular season at MCLA tomorrow afternoon.

Orlando went 2-for-2 with a run scored and a walk for the Lady Vikings.