Softball Drops Conference Doubleheader To Bears

McKenzie goes a perfect 6-for-6 for the Green & Gold 

Bridgewater, MA. – The Fitchburg State University Softball team dropped a pair of Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) contests to the Bears of Bridgewater State this afternoon from Alumni Park as the Falcons dropped a 13-5 decision in the opener before falling 11-3 in the nightcap.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 5, Bridgewater State 13 (GM1)
Score: Fitchburg State 3, Bridgewater State 11 (GM2)

Records: Fitchburg State (4-23, 2-4 MASCAC) I Bridgewater State (10-12, 3-3 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Game One

Fitchburg State opened the scoring in the top of third as junior Adria McKenzie (Lowell, MA) and freshman Emily Bennett (Gorham, ME) reached on back-to-back singles before newcomer Carolyn Brodeur (Ashby, MA) laced a single up the middle and following a pair of miscues, McKenzie and Bennett crossed the plate for the 2-0 advantage.

Bridgewater State responded in the bottom of the fourth, scoring nine runs on six with freshman Sarah Silvia (East Bridgewater, MA) connecting on a two-run double, while sophomore Makayla Ansell (Menifee, CA) added a bases-clearing triple to make the score 9-2.

The Falcons answered back in the top of fifth when Bennett walked, Broduer and senior Isabella Sousa (Charlton, MA) reached on fielders' choices to load bases before sophomore Jessica Mueller (Fitchburg, MA) ripped a single to left center and newcomer Priscilla Dillon (Glennville, GA) registered an RBI single to cut the deficit to 9-5.

The Bears secured the victory in the bottom of the fifth as Ansell, graduate student Janet Jolly (Raynham, MA), senior Amelia Blake (Raynham, MA) and sophomore Sidney Schwartz (Chelmsford, MA) collected RBI's, resulting in the 13-5 final.

By The Numbers

• McKenzie led the way for the Falcons, going a perfect 3-for-3 with a run scored
• Mueller finished 2-for-3 with two RBI
• Junior Madison Solt (Salem, NH) took the loss for Fitchburg State, allowing 13 runs (six earned) on 12 hits and three K's over 4.1 innings pitched
• Ansell went 2-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored and four RBI for the Bears
• Senior McKayla Cusack (West Haven, CT) earned the victory for Bridgewater State, giving up five runs on eight hits and two strikeouts in the complete game effort

Game Two

Fitchburg State grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as McKenzie singled down the left field line, moved to second and third on a sacrifice bunt and fielding miscue and crossed the plate on an RBI single off the bat of Mueller.

Bridgewater State took a 3-1 advantage in their half of the first frame with sophomore Sydney Schaeffer (Swarthmore, PA) singled to third base to drive in a pair, while Jolly followed with an RBI groundout.

The Falcons trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the second when McKenzie singled through the left side to drive in pinch runner Izabella Raughley (Hartly, DE). The Bears pushed the margin to 6-2 in the bottom of the second with Ansell and Jolly notching run scoring hits.

The hosts upped the lead to 11-2 in the bottom of fourth as Blake drove in Jolly with an RBI single through the left side, while senior Emily Marcotte (North Dighton, MA) connected on a two-run single up the middle.

The Green and Gold capped the scoring in the top of the fifth with Brodeur bringing in McKenzie with a single to center field, resulting in the 11-3 final.

By The Numbers

• McKenzie paced the Falcons, hitting 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI
• Brodeur added one hit and an RBI for the Green and Gold
• Senior Sydney Gabay (Bohemia, MY) suffered the setback for Fitchburg State, yielding seven runs (3 earned) on eight hits and one strikeout over three innings pitched
• For the Bears, Jolly went 2-for-3 with a double, triple, one run scored and two RBI
• Junior Olyvia Mendoza (Taunton, MA) collected the win for Bridgewater State, allowing three unearned runs on eight hits and four K's in the complete game effort
• 85th meeting between the Falcons and Bears on the softball field with Fitchburg State 12-73 all-time when taking on Bridgewater State

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Thursday as they travel to New England College to take on the Pilgrims for a non-conference twin bill, starting at 3:00PM.

STAY CONNECTED:

- For the latest on Fitchburg State University Athletics, follow the Falcons via social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.