Sousa registers game winning for the Falcons in game one 

Salem, MA. – The Fitchburg State University softball team earned a split with the Vikings of Salem State this evening in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) double header from Alumni Field as the Falcons collected a 1-0 victory in the opener before falling 7-0 in the nightcap.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 1, Salem State 0 (GM1)

Score: Fitchburg State 0, Salem State 7 (GM 2)

Game One

After a scoreless five innings of play, Fitchburg State opened the scoring in the top of the sixth as freshman Carolyn Brodeur (Ashby, MA) doubled to left field and crossed the plate on an RBI double of the bat of senior Isabella Sousa (Charlton, MA) for the 1-0 advantage.

Salem State threatened in the bottom of sixth when sophomore Samantha Gaona-Sullivan (Billerica, MA) singled and graduate student Taylor McDermott (Durham, CT) walked. Following a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third, Falcon hurler Madison Solt (Salem, NH) was able to retire the next two batters to preserve the 1-0, game one victory.

Inside the Number

• Sousa led the way for the Falcons in game one, going 1-for-1 with a double and an RBI
• Brodeur finished 2-for-3 with a double and one run scored
• Solt picked up the victory for Fitchburg State, allowing no runs on four hits and five strikeouts in the complete game effort
• For the Vikings, Gaona-Sullivan went 2-for-3 with a double
• Sophomore Alanis Toledano (Boston, MA) took the loss for Salem State, giving up one run on four hits and ten K's in six innings of work

Game Two

Salem State grabbed the lead in the bottom of the first as Ganoa-Sullivan tripled to center field to bring in junior Allison Frost (Auburn, MA) before Toledano added an RBI double to right field that scored McDermott for the 3-0 edge.

The Vikings upped the advantage to 7-0 in the bottom of the fifth with senior Emily Henning (Grafton, MA) laced a two-run double to left field to drive in freshman Tara Perryman (San Juan Capistrano, CA), while sophomore Paige Souza (New Bedford, MA) and junior Hailey Ano (Pittsfield, MA) followed with RBI, bases loaded walks.

Inside the Number

• 95th meeting between Fitchburg State and Salem State on the softball field with the Falcons 45-50 all-time when taking on the Vikings
• Junior Shaelyn Burns (North Attleboro, MA) led the way for the Green and Gold in game two, hitting 2-for-3 with a double
• Brodeur went 1-for-3 for the Green and Gold
• Senior Mackenzie Leveille (Brooklyn, CT) suffered the setback for Fitchburg State, yielding seven runs (1 earned) on seven hits over 4.2 innings pitched
• For the Vikings, Gaona-Sullivan finished 2-of-4 with a triple, two runs scored and a run scored
• Junior Gracie Martineau (Westminster, MA) collected the win for Salem State, giving up just three hits and one strikeout in the compete game effort

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Tuesday as they travel to Clark University to take on the Cougars for a non-conference twin bill, starting at 3:00PM/.

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