Softball Ends Season with 6-2 Loss to MCLA in MASCAC Tournament

By Jim Fenton

WESTFIELD, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University softball team was eliminated from the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament Friday afternoon.

The fifth-seeded Bears had their season come to an end with a 6-2 loss to the sixth-seeded Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts at Sullivan Field.

BSU (18-22) went 1-2 in the tournament, defeating fourth-seeded Framingham State University and losing to second-seeded Worcester State University.

The Bears were limited to four hits -- three by senior Angelina Lynch (Taunton, Mass.) -- and surrendered three runs in the top of the seventh inning when the Trailblazers (20-19) took control.

MCLA never trailed, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning, and held BSU to single runs in the third and fourth innings.

The Trailblazers loaded the bases in the first when senior Hailey Peabody (West Springfield, Mass.) singled through the left side, freshman Nevaeh Lopez (Pittsfield, Mass.) was hit by a pitch and senior Maggie Closinski (Rome, N.Y.) bunted for a hit.

Freshman Hannah Gilbert (Colrain, Mass.), the winning pitcher, walked to force in a run and a fielder's choice by freshman Paxton Ebling (Pittsfield, Mass.) brought in the second run.

MCLA went ahead, 3-0, in the second on a two-out homer down the line in left by Peabody, her fourth of the season.

The Bears scored their first run in the third when Lynch led off with a triple down the line in right and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior Sydney Schaefer (Swarthmore, Pa.).

BSU cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fourth when senior Victoria Becker (Abington, Mass.) reached on an error with two outs, stole second and scored when pinch hitter Arihana Mercado (South Grafton, Mass.), a sophomore, singled through the right side.

Lynch led off the fifth with a bunt single, but she was the last BSU player to reach base as Gilbert (10-8) retired the final nine batters she faced.

Lynch, a first-team All-MASCAC outfielder, led BSU with 46 hits, a .368 average and 22 stolen bases.

MCLA opened a four-run lead in the seventh inning.

Peabody walked and Lopez singled through the right side before Closinski had an RBI with a bunt single.

Following a flyout, a bunt single by Ebling scored a run and a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Allie Mienaltowski (Delanson, N.Y.) brought in the final run.

Gilbert struck out seven and walked only one while pitching the four-hitter.

Junior Olivia Hargreaves (Weare, N.H.) took the loss and finished 5-9. She struck out nine and allowed eight hits.

Peabody was 2-for-2 and Closinski 2-for-4 for MCLA, which advanced to face Worcester State at 3 p.m.

The winner of that elimination game goes against host Westfield State (37-1) in the championship round, which is now scheduled for Sunday at noon.

Playing their final games for BSU were Lynch, Becker, Emily Eastman (Cranston, R.I.), Makayla Ansell (Menifee, Calif.), Olyvia Mendonca (Taunton, Mass.) and Ella Staffier (Marshfield, Mass.).