Click here for Worcester State-Framingham State box score

Click here for Fitchburg State-Salem State box score

Courtesy Worcester State Sports Information

Worcester State 7, Framingham State 2

Worcester, MA --- Senior Kylene Pease (Ashland, MA) went 2-for-4 with two runs and a pair of RBIs as she helped lead third-seeded Worcester State to a 7-2 victory over #6 Framingham State in the opening round of the MASCAC Tournament this afternoon at Rockwood Park.

The Lancers (23-15) advance to the Quarterfinal round to take on #2 MCLA tomorrow on the road at 3 o’clock. The Rams see their season come to a close at 9-30 overall.

Pease helped give the Blue and Gold the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when she crossed home plate on a passed ball. She reached on a lead-off single, moved to second on a sacrifice and reached third on a ground-out.

The score remained the same until the hosts plated five runs in the bottom of the fifth for the commanding 6-0 edge.

The Lancers took advantage of a pair of miscues as the frame was highlighted by a two-run single by Pease and fielder’s choice RBI’s by freshman Hayley Terry (N. Dighton, MA) and sophomore Katie Storro (Leominster, MA).

Framingham State broke the shutout in the top of the sixth on a run producing base-knock by sophomore Tiffany Agostini (Rehoboth, MA), who plated freshman Kourtney Kacian (Gardner, MA).

Worcester State got the run back in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI ground-out by senior Alex Kerr (Franklin, MA) to bring in junior Hillary Hart (Clinton, MA).

The Rams tried to mount a rally on a run-scoring single by freshman Helen Falzone (Ashland, MA), but the uprising was short-lived as senior Hannah Everson (Methuen, MA) ended the game on a fly-out.

Everson (9-5) went the distance for the 13th time this season in as many starts. She allowed two runs (one earned) to go with six hits and a pair of punch-outs.

Everson, who was four innings shy of being nationally ranked in earned run average earlier this week, now has a sparkling 0.75 ERA on the campaign.

Senior Yaya Faria (Acton, MA) went the first five frames giving up six runs (one earned) on six hits while she struck out one batter. Faria’s record drops to 6-15 with the loss.

Pease was the lone multi-hitter for the Lancers, who out-hit the Rams 7-6, while Agostini went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Courtesy Fitchburg State Sports Information

Fitchburg State 3, Salem State 2

FITCHBURG, Mass. (May 2, 2013) – The fourth seeded Fitchburg State softball team defeated the fifth seeded Vikings of Salem State University, 3-2 in the opening round of the 2013 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Softball Tournament at Coolidge Park this afternoon.

With the victory, Fitchburg State (19-20, 8-6 MASCAC) advances to the double elimination round of the tournament and will take on top seeded Bridgewater State on Friday at 4p,m, Salem State concludes its 2013  season with an overall record of 19-16 and a 7-7 clip within the conference.

Freshman shortstop Marissa Gemma (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) ignited the Falcons offensive surge, with a single and three RBI, while classmate Tori Cyrus (Everett, Mass./Everett) continued her solid hitting, going a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish with a pair of runs scored.

Salem State was led by junior Michelle Flower (Reading, Mass./Reading) (1-for-2) with a single and one run scored, while seniors Alyssa Bryan (Stoneham, Mass./Stoneham) and Christina Cipriani (Peabody, Mass./Bishop Fenwick) added one hit apiece.

The Falcons jumped out to a quick lead in the bottom of the opening frame as Fitchburg State proceeded to loaded the bases with two outs in the inning on a single by Cyrus and back-to-back walks from Amanda Whitelaw (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) and Colleen Flaherty (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) before Gemma delivered with a clutch two-run single down the right field line for the 2-0 advantage.

The visitors cut the lead in half (2-1) in the top of the third inning when Flower singled to centerfield, moved to second on wild pitch, stole third and crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly to left off the bat of senior Lauren Garchinsky (Saugus, Mass./Saugus).

Fitchburg State added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning as Cyrus connected for her third hit of the game to open the stanza, advanced to second on groundout and moved to third on fielding error before scoring on a RBI ground out from Gemma to make the score 3-2 after five innings of play.

The Vikings would respond in the final stanza, cutting the lead to just one when Cipriani led off the inning with base knock back up the middle before pinch runner Shelia O’Sullivan (Westwood, Mass./Westwood) came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Garchinsky but Falcon hurler Kerry Alcott (Groton, Mass./Groton- Dunstable) induced a game ending pop up, resulting in the 3-2 final.

 In the circle, Alcott earned the victory, allowing just two earned runs on three hits and six punch outs in the complete game effort for Fitchburg State, while Bryan suffered the setback, giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits (4 K’s) in six innings of work for the Vikings.