FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Framingham State University captured the program's second straight Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Softball Tournament championship as the top-seeded Rams posted a 10-2 victory in five innings over #2 Bridgewater State University in the championship round on Sunday afternoon at Maple Street Field.
By virtue of the tournament title, the Rams (32-11) will advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the sixth time in program history. Framingham also made NCAA appearances in 2007, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022. The NCAA Division III Tournament selection show will be webcast live at www.ncaa.com on Monday afternoon at one o'clock.
Bridgewater State ends the season with an overall record of 15-28-1.
Gwendolyn Carpenter went 3-for-3 with a home run, a pair of doubles, two runs and three RBI to lead the Rams to the victory.
Ally Moran picked up the complete game win in the circle. Moran (21-5), who earned tournament MVP honors, allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits over the five innings with one walk and a pair of strikeouts.
The Rams jumped on top with three runs in the bottom of the first inning highlighted by a two-run homer by Carpenter.
The Bears answered with a pair of runs in the top of the second. Madison Dana walked to lead off the frame and was replaced on the base paths by Victoria Becker. Becker stole second and scored when Olivia Silva reached on a two-base throwing error. A base hit to left by Amelia Blake put runners at the corners. Molly Thibaudeau followed with an RBI double to plate Silva and cut the BSU deficit to 3-2. With runners at second and third and still nobody out, Moran minimized the damage by retiring the next three batters on a foul out, strikeout and line out to short.
Framingham got one back in the home half of the second to make it a 4-2 game as Keely Scotia tripled with one out and trotted home on an RBI single by Angelina Lynch.
The Rams capitalized on a crucial BSU error to push across five unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth. With runners at first and second with two outs, Makayla Rooney reached on an infield error to load the bases. Camille Desrochers then changed the entire tenor of the game as she lined a bases clearing three-run double to the gap in left-centerfield. Carpenter followed with an RBI double and score on an RBI single by Talia Duca to give the hosts a decided 9-2 advantage.
Framingham won the game and the tournament in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the fifth. Scotia reached on an error to lead off the frame and Lynch followed with a base hit. A wild pitch then advanced the runners to second and third. After a pop out, Rooney smacked an RBI single into left field to plate Scotia with the game-ending run.
The Rams banged out 11 hits in the contest led by Carpenter's outstanding performance. Rooney (2-4, 2R, RBI) and Lynch (2-3, R, RBI) also finished with multiple hits for the hosts.
Blake singled twice in two at bats to lead the way for Bridgewater State.
The BSU defense committed four errors on the afternoon as six of the Rams' ten runs were unearned.
Madelyn Klingel suffered the loss in the circle for the Bears. Klingel gave up seven runs (four earned) on five hits over three-plus innings with three walks and two strikeouts.