Softball Falls to Framingham State in MASCAC Title Game

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Led by tournament MVP Gwendolyn Carpenter (Ashley Falls, Mass.), Framingham State University captured the program's fifth Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Softball Tournament championship as the fourth-seeded Rams downed top-seeded Bridgewater State University, 7-0, in the championship game on Sunday afternoon at Alumni Park. Framingham forced the if necessary game with a 7-3 victory over the Bears earlier in the day.

By virtue of the tournament championship, the Rams (23-17) will advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the fifth time in program history. Framingham also made NCAA appearances in 2007, 2017, 2018 and 2019. The NCAA Division III Softball Tournament Selection Show will be webcast live at www.ncaa.com on Monday afternoon at one o'clock with regional play getting underway on Friday, May 13th.

Carpenter batted .632 (12-19) in six games during the tournament with a double, a triple, two stolen bases, six runs and eight RBI. She also walked four times, was hit by a pitch twice and posted a .692 on base percentage.

Bridgewater State ends the season with an overall record of 23-16-1.

MASCAC Tournament Championship Round (Game One): #4 Framingham State 7, #1 Bridgewater State 3

Framingham posted a 7-3 victory over Bridgewater in the MASCAC Tournament Championship Round to force the "if necessary" game.

The Rams opened the scoring with an unearned run in the top of the first inning. With two outs, junior centerfielder Gwendolyn Carpenter (Ashley Falls, Mass.) dropped a single into centerfield and then scored all the way from first when freshman right fielder Shelby Roode (Ashaway, R.I.) reached on a dropped pop up.

Framingham tacked on two more runs in the third inning on Roode's clutch two-out, two-run single.

The Bears rallied to cut the deficit to 3-2 in the home half of the third. Freshman second baseman Amelia Blake (Raynham, Mass.) walked to lead off the frame, stole second and scored on senior shortstop Megan Sharon's (East Longmeadow, Mass.) RBI triple to the gap in right-center. Junior designated player Madison Dana (Lynn, Mass.) followed with an RBI single to left to make it a one-run game.

The Rams capitalized on a pair of BSU errors in the top of the fourth to push across three runs. Sophomore first baseman Kelsey McGuill (East Longmeadow, Mass.) singled to lead off the inning, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored when junior catcher Zoe Smyth (Cambridge, Mass.) reached on a two-base throwing error. Sophomore second baseman Morgan Poli (Cumberland, R.I.) followed with an RBI single and, after an out and another Bridgewater miscue, Carpenter connected for a two-out RBI single to give the visitors a 6-2 lead.

Bridgewater threatened in the bottom of the sixth as the Bears loaded the bases with one. Junior pitcher Ally Moran (Wilmington, Mass.), however, was able to minimize the damage giving up just a run in the frame on an RBI ground out.

Framingham got the run back in the top of the seventh on a two-out RBI double off the bat of sophomore third baseman Mercedes Jimenez (Cambridge, Mass.).

Moran (13-10) went the distance in the circle for Rams as she allowed three runs on seven hits over seven innings with five walks and five strikeouts.

Senior righthander Kelley Reichert (Milford, Mass.) also tossed a complete game in the setback for Bridgewater State. Reichert (15-5) gave up seven runs (four earned) on 11 hits over seven innings with a walk and three strikeouts.

Carpenter went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI to pace Framingham's 11-hit attack. Roode (2-4, 3RBI), McGuill (2-4, R) and Jimenez (2-3, 2B, RBI) also recorded multiple hits for the Rams.

Sharon was 2-for-4 at the plate with a triple, a run and an RBI to highlight the BSU offense. Dana reached safely three times in four plate appearances as she added a pair of walks to her RBI single.

MASCAC Tournament Championship Round (Game Two): #4 Framingham State 7, #1 Bridgewater State 0

Sophomore righthander Caroline Hughes (Canton, Mass.) tossed a complete game shutout to lead the Rams to the 7-0 victory in the deciding game of the MASCAC Tournament. Hughes scattered six hits, did not issue and walk and struck out six.

Framingham, who batted last in the deciding game, got on the board with an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning. The Rams loaded the bases with one out on a pair of walks and a BSU fielding error. A sacrifice fly by McGuill then gave the visitors a 1-0 lead.

The Rams capitalized on three BSU errors to push across three unearned runs in the second. Poli and freshman left fielder Brooke Grassia (Danvers, Mass.) notched RBI singles in the frame while Carpenter connected for an RBI double.

Framingham tacked on three more runs in the third to make it a 7-0 game. Junior designated player Keely Scotia (Charlton, Mass.) knocked in run with an RBI single, while the Rams also plated a run as a result of a wild pitch. Senior shortstop Camille Desrochers (Westford, Mass.) capped of the scoring in the frame with a sacrifice fly.

Poli was the only Ram with multiple hits in the contest as she went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Carpenter doubled and walked in three plate appearances.

Graduate centerfielder Alexandra Ruprecht (Kingston, Mass.) went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles to pace the BSU offense.

Sophomore righthander Madelyn Klingel (Windsor, Conn.) was saddled with the loss in the circle for Bridgewater State. Klingel (3-3) gave up six runs, only two of which were earned, on four hits and three walks. Reichert pitched well in 3 2/3 innings of shutout relief as she gave up just two hits with no walks and four strikeouts.