Softball Sweeps Salem State in MASCAC Twinbill

SALEM, Mass. -- The visiting Bridgewater State University softball team opened Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) play with a doubleheader sweep against Salem State University on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field.

Alexandra Ruprecht (Kingston, Mass.) went 4-for-5 with three runs scored to lead Bridgewater State to a 13-7 victory in game one, while Kelley Reichert (Milford, Mass.) tossed a complete game, five-inning shutout as the Bears completed the sweep wiith a 9-0 win in game two.

With the two victories, the Bears improve to 5-12 (2-0 MASCAC) on the season, while the Vikings falls to 8-8 (0-2 MASCAC) overall.

Game One

In game one, Bridgewater State struck first with a run in the second inning on an RBI single by Meghan Navarro (Taunton, Mass.). The visitors then added a four-run third off Salem State starter Brooke Westmoreland (Saugus, Mass.). A sacrifice fly by Megan Sharon (East Longmeadow, Mass.) plated the first run, while the Bears then took advantage of two Salem errors, the second which allowed two runners to come home, to make extend the lead to 5-0.

The BSU offense exploded for six runs in the top of the fourth to make it an 11-0 game. Sharon, Ruprecht and Kacie Carvalho (Fairhaven, Mass.) recorded RBI singles in the frame. Jenny Heller (Taunton, Mass.) reached on an error to plate a run, while Taylor knocked in an run with an RBI groundout. Westmoreland was lifted for Nia Neves (Medford, Mass.) who allowed the the final run of the frame on a wild pitch. Westmoreland came back into the game when Neves was injured on the play.

Salem State broke through in the bottom of the fourth with two runs as Kasey Nolan (Braintree, Mass.) and Gracie Hogan (Northbridge, Mass.) hit back-to-back RBI singles.

After Bridgewater State countered with a run on Taylor's sacrifice fly, Salem State answered with a four-run fifth, highlighted by a two-run home run from Chloe Manousos (Lowell, Mass.) off the right field foul pole to cut the deficit to 12-6.

Shannon Grindle (Halifax, Mass.) pushed the BSU lead up to 13-6 with an RBI single in the top of the sixth.

The Vikings added a run in the seventh, but Bears' pitcher Natalie Sorrenti (Bridgewater, Mass.) finished the complete game to earn her fourth win of the year. Sorrenti (4-4) gave up seven runs (three earned) on nine hits with four strikeouts while not walking a batter. Westmoreland (4-4) took the loss allowing 13 runs (five earned) on 13 hits with three strikeouts and three walks.

Samantha Mulcahy (Taunton, Mass.) also finished with multiple hits for Bridgewater State in game one. Mulcahy went 3-for-5 with a double and a run. Sharon, Grindle and Taylor drove in two runs apiece.

Mikayla Porcaro (Amesbury, Mass.) went 3-for-4 with three runs for the Vikings.

Game Two

The Bears wasted little time in game two as the visitors posted four runs in the opening inning. Ruprecht and Heller each had RBI base hits before Navarro launched a two-run double to center for a 4-0 lead. Two more runs in the second and third innings increased the lead to 6-0. The Bears used a three-run fourth, highlighted by RBI hits from Heller and Carvalho to make the score 9-0.

Reichert (1-5) allowed just one hit after the first and finished with a three-hitter, She walked one and fanned two in earning her first collegiate win.

Gracie Hogan (Northbridge, Mass.) lasted three innings, giving up six runs (four earned) on ten hits. Hogan (1-3) walked one and fanned one in the loss. Dominique Del Vecchio (Stoneham, Mass.) pitched the final two innings, and gave up three runs on five hits with three walks.

Carvalho was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate in game two with a run and an RBI, while Grindle finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Heller (2-for-3) and Navarro (2-for-3, 2 R) each had two hits and two RBI. Grindle's single in the fourth inning marked her 100th career hit. 

The Bears are off untiil next Saturday when they travel to Worcester State University for a noontime MASCAC doubleheader with the Lancers.