Softball Falls Twice To Vikings In MASCAC Action

Cahill finishes with season-best eight K's in opener

Fitchburg, MA: The Fitchburg Softball team dropped a pair of Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) contests to the Vikings of Salem State this afternoon from the Donna Lee Withington Memorial Softball Field as the Falcons fell 8-2 in the opener before dropping an 11-2 decision in the night cap.

THE BASICS:

- Date: 3/30/24

- Score: Fitchburg State 2, Salem State 8 (GM1)

- Score: Fitchburg State 2, Salem State 11 (GM2)

- Records: Fitchburg State (4-12, 0-2 MASCAC), Salem State (7-7, 4-0 MASCAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED: Game One

-  Fitchburg State opened the scoring in the bottom of the first as junior Julia Gauvin (Granby, MA) singled to center field, moved to second on base hit through the left side by freshman Jessica Mueller (Fitchburg, MA) and scored on an RBI single to right center from junior Isabella Sousa (Charlton, MA) before junior Ella Marshall (Gloucester, MA) drew a bases loaded walk that plated Mueller for the 2-0 edge.

- Salem State knotted the score at 2-2 in the top of the third when senior Payton Jeffers (Holly Ridge, NC) and freshman Alaina Giulano (Malden, MA) reached on base knocks before newcomer Samantha Gaona (Billerica, MA) laced a two-run single to right, scoring Jeffers and Giulano.

- The Vikings took the lead in the top of the sixth with senior Stephanie Grassi (Cambridge, MA) and classmate Mackenzie DeSantis (Ridge, NY) collecting RBI hits, while Jeffers added a sacrifice fly to make the score 5-2. Salem State secured the victory in the top of the seventh as Gaona tripled to drive in senior Isabella Perrotti (Winthrop, MA) and crossed the plate on a wild pitch, resulting in 8-2 final.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

-  Mueller led the way for the Falcons, going 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored

-  Senior Molly Grass (Rockland, MA) finished with two hits and a stolen base for the Green and Gold

-  Senior Sarah Cahill (Mansfield, MA) took the loss for Fitchburg State, giving up seven runs (5 earned) on 11 hits with eight K's and one walk over six innings of work

-  For the Vikings, Gaona went 2-for-4 with a triple, one run scored and three RBI

-  DeSantis chipped in with two hits, including a double and two RBI

-  Sophomore Gracie Martineau (Westminster, MA) collected the win for Salem State, allowing two runs on nine hits as well as two strikeouts and two walks in the complete game effort.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Game Two

-  Salem State grabbed the lead in the top of the first frame as junior Emily Henning (Grafton, MA) ripped a two-run single to left center, while DeSantis added a three-run home run to left field for the 5-0 advantage. Fitchburg State trimmed the deficit to 5-2 in the bottom of the third when Grass walked and senior Dana Cisowski (Torrington, CT) singled up the middle, while Gauvin followed with two-run double to left field.

- The Vikings pushed the lead 11-2 in the top of fourth as Giulano drew a bases loaded walk to bring in DeSantis, while Perrotti added a two-run double to right field.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  This afternoon's contest marked the 95th meeting between the two teams on softball field with the Falcons 44-51 all-time when taking on the Vikings

-  Gauvin paced the Falcons, going 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI

-  Grass added one hit, one walk and a run scored for the Green and Gold

-  Sophomore Madison Solt (Salem, NH) suffered the setback for Fitchburg State, yielding ten runs on seven hits and striking out three over three innings of work

-  For the Vikings, DeSantis finished 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBI

-  Perrotti chipped in with a double, one run scored and two RBI

-  Senior Emily Carter (Warwick, RI) collected the win for Salem State, allowing two runs (1 earned) on four hits with six K's and one walk over five innings pitched

UP NEXT:

- Fitchburg State returns to action on Tuesday as they host the Cougars of Clark University for a non-conference twin bill, starting at 3:00PM.

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