The Bridgewater State College softball team was eliminated in a 1-0 loss to MASCAC Champion Framingham State on Sunday afternoon. The game was forced to be played after BSC took the earlier win in a 7-1 decision.Framingham pushed across the only run of the game in the first inning. Lead-off batter Christina Sullivan reached first on a catchers interference call and then reached third on a botched sacrifice bunt play at first base. Sullivan crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly to left field by senior Kristina Cocarane.
Senior righthander Kristina Curtis went the distance and pitched a complete game in the win for Framingham State. Curtis (13-7) went seven innings giving up 2 hits, while striking out 7 batters. Curtis was impressive throughout the MASCAC Tournament as she went 3-0 with a 0.84 earned run average. In 25 innings pitched she struck out 17 batters and held opponents to a .180 batting average.
"We just didnt adjust early on and often enough," said head coach Janet Maguire. "We were confident (after winning the first game), but we knew it wasn't going to be handed to us. We knew it was going to be a pitchers' duel."
Freshman left-hander Erin Christensen took the loss for BSC. She only lasted 4 innings giving up one run (zero earned) on two hits. Freshman right-hander Alyssa Verroneau came into the game to relieve Christensen. Verroneau pitched three scoreless innings giving up only 3 hits.
After Framingham took the 1-0 lead, both teams had frustrating games at the plate. Bridgewater State had two big opportunities to score the tying run slip right through their fingers.
"We tried to adjust at different times and the offense has been there all year," said Coach Maguire. "Sometimes its going to be there and sometimes its not."
In the bottom of the fifth, sophomore third baseman Stacey Capodice reached first on a fielding error by the pitcher and advanced to second on the throw that tried to get her out. On the very next at-bat Capodice tried to steal third, but she was caught stealing on the play. BSC also left the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh.
"We had our opportunities (to score runs)," said Maguire. "But we just couldn't capitalize on them.
Coach Maguire said that she didn't think offense would be a struggle for this team."All year we had been playing our best softball and defense has been a problem," said Maguire. "Today we struggled on the offensively."
The Bridgewater State softball team finishes their season at 22-20-1. This marks the first time since 2003 that the team has not made an NCAA tournament appearance.
With no seniors on the roster, the Bears look to return almost everyone on the roster next year.
"I hope that this loss is motivation to prepare us for next spring," said Maguire
Photo 1: Freshman southpaw Erin Christensen makes a pitch to the plate
Photo 2: With junior second baseman Nicole Hebert at the plate, the players in the dugout cheer their teamate on, down 1-0 to Framingham
Photo 3: Junior first baseman Danielle Trull Donahue swings and misses at a pitch
Photos courtesy of Steven M Miller, Jr
Game Notes:
Sophomore centerfielder Allie LeBlanc extended her 25 game hit streak with an infield single in the fourth inning...In the 7-1 victory, BSC broke a 2-1 game open in the sixth, scoring 5 runs...Pierce also took the victory in the circle for the Bears in the first game. Pierce went the distance pitching a complete game. She gave up only one earned run in seven innings of work. She also struck out 3 and walked 3 batters...Framingham makes its first ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
Some information used in this report is courtesy of the Brockton Enterprise and framingham.edu/athletics
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