SOFTBALL TEAM COMES UP SHORT AT FRAMINGHAM STATE

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – The Framingham State University softball came from behind twice this afternoon as the Rams swept Emmanuel College in a non-conference doubleheader at Maple Street.  The Rams won the opener 3-2 before holding on for a 6-5 victory in the nightcap.  With the victories, FSU improves to 8-11 on the season, while the losses drop the Saints to 11-7 on the year.

In the opener Emmanuel took the lead in their first at bat of the day as sophomore Samantha Adams (Sanford, ME) laced an RBI single up the middle with two outs.

The game remained 1-0 in favor of the Saints until the bottom of the fifth inning as their starting pitcher, Adams, cruised through the first four innings.  In the fifth, the Rams had runners on first and third and sophomore Tiffanie Marsh (Tewksbury, Mass) reached on an RBI single driving in the tying run.

The Rams took their first lead in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single from freshman Anna Dziok (Southampton, Mass.).  The Saints answered in the top of the seventh with the tying run.  Freshman Brooke Ames (Boylston, Mass.) led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice.  After an out, junior Kerrianne Vulpis (East Rockaway, NY) drove in Ames run with a single to center.

The Rams loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh on a double by freshman Dayna Marchant (East Bridgewater, Mass.), a walk by Marsh, and Kylie Boyle (Billerica, Mass.) reached on an infield hit.  After an out, freshman Megan Downing (Hanson, Mass.) drove in the game-winning run with a grounder to second.

Marsh earned the victory in the circle going seven innings allowing two earned runs on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts.  Adams suffered the loss for the Saints going six and two thirds allowing three runs on eight hits with four walks and 13 strikeouts.

In the nightcap, Emmanuel jumped out to a 3-0 lead.  They pushed across their first run in the top of the second when they had first and third. The runner on first was caught in a rundown trying to steal second allowing junior Val Kiers (West Warwick, RI) to score from third.

Emmanuel added two more in the top of the third on and RBI single to center from Brenna Gilmore that initially appeared to have been caught on a diving play in the outfield and on the back end of a double steal.

The Rams loaded bases in bottom of fourth with no outs, but could only push one run across on a two out walk by sophomore Casey Fanning (East Boston, Mass.).

The Rams were able to complete the comeback and take the lead for good in the nightcap with five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Marsh drove in three with a homerun to left center.  Freshman Bridget McGrail (Worcester, Mass.) added an RBI triple and sophomore Danielle Belliveau (Lakeville, Mass.) singled in what would prove to be the game winning run.

Emmanuel made things interesting with two runs in the top of the sixth as they scored a run on a wild pitch and Catherine Davis singled in another, but the Rams were able to end the inning and come away with the victory.

Junior Natasha Arseneau (Waltham, Mass.) earned the victory going five plus innings and allowing five runs, three earned, on five hits with two strikeouts and walk.  Marsh worked two innings of relief to record her first save of the season.

Kiers suffered the loss for the Saints allowing three earned runs on eight hits with a strikeout.  The Rams are back in action Thursday when they host UMass Boston in a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m., while the Saints travel to Norwich tomorrow for a pair of GNAC contests beginning at 3 p.m.