WESTFIELD – Erika Gouin (Hampden, Mass.) and Maddy Atkocaitis (Westfield, Mass.) had four hits each as the Westfield State softball team split a MASCAC doubleheader against Salem State Monday afternoon at Alumni Field. The Owls took the first game, 3-1, before falling 6-3 in the second contest.
With the split, Westfield State moves to 11-16 overall, 4-4 in the MASCAC. Salem State in now 10-14 on the season, 5-3 in conference play.
In the opener, Westfield broke a 1-1 tie with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and freshman pitcher Sarah Eugenio (Marshfield, Mass.) finished out her sixth win of the season.
Freshman left fielder Bri Tortora (Worcester, Mass.) led off the fifth inning with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Liz Kelly (Quincy, Mass.). After a groundout from Emma Dunbar (Weymouth, Mass.) moved Tortora to third base, Atkocaitis scored Tortora with a single to right field and moved all the way to third on the throw home.
Junior Julia Sullivan (West Barnstable, Mass.) followed with a line single to left, plating Atkocaitis for a 3-1 Owls lead. Atkocaitis and Sullivan each had two hits and drove in a run in the opener for Westfield.
Westfield State catcher Angelica Banning tries to put the tag on a Salem State base runner on a play at the plate. (Matt Zarrella photo)
Salem State struck first, scoring an unearned run in the top of the second, when catcher Desiree Moreno (Ashburnham, Mass.) advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored when the catcher’s throw sailed over the third baseman’s mitt. Moreno led off the inning with a single to left field before pitcher Iliesh Burney (Bristol, Conn.) moved her to second with a groundout.
Westfield State answered back in the bottom half of the second inning, as Gouin tied the game at 1 with a deep solo home run, her fourth of the season.
Eugenio (6-5) pitched a complete game, allowing five hits and one unearned run while striking out four and walking none. Iliesh Burley (7-7) took the loss for the Vikings, giving up three runs on seven hits.
In the second game, Westfield scored three runs in the first inning, but Salem responded with five unanswered runs to secure a 6-3 victory.
After Salem scored a run in the top of the first inning, Atkocaitis drove in two Owl runs with a triple to the right field wall, then scored on a sacrifice fly from Sullivan to give Westfield a 3-1 advantage.
In the third inning, Vikings center fielder Jessica Raymond (Peabody, Mass.) hit an RBI double to right center field, then after advancing to third on a groundout, stole home on a pickoff attempt to tie the game at 3.
Salem State scored two more runs in the fourth inning, on a solo home run off the scoreboard from Rachael Cyr (Amesbury, Mass.) to lead off the inning, and an RBI fielder’s choice from Moreno when pinch runner Kasey Nolan beat the throw at the plate.
The Vikings added an insurance run in the sixth inning when Raymond singled to right field, scoring pitcher Meghan Black (Winchendon, Mass.) from third. Raymond went 4-for-4 with 2 RBI on the game.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Westfield State loaded the bases with two outs, but center fielder Emma Dunbar (Weymouth, Mass.) grounded out to end the threat.
Black (3-4) earned the win for Salem, pitching 5 2/3 innings and allowing three runs on nine hits. Burney registered a save, pitching a clean final 1 1/3 innings.
Sullivan (5-7) took the loss, surrendering six runs on 12 hits, while striking out four and walking none.
Gouin had three hits on the game to lead Westfield, while Atkocaitis drove in two runs.
The Owls return to action on Tuesday, when they host Springfield College in a doubleheader beginning at 3:30 p.m. Salem State hosts Worcester State next Saturday, April 23, in a MASCAC doubleheader starting at noon. – Courtesy of Westfield State Sports
