The Westfield State University softball team is projected to finish fourth in the 2020 MASCAC Poll. (WESTFIELD STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS PHOTO)
WESTFIELD – The Westfield State Owls softball team will begin the 2020 season after being picked to finish fourth in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletics Conference.
The Bridgewater State Bears are projected as the team to finish in first place in the MASCAC. The Bears finished the 2019 as the co-regular season champions, finishing 12-2 in the conference tied with Framingham State.
The Framingham State Rams begin this season as the defending MASCAC champions, who were voted as the team to finish second this season.
The Fitchburg State Falcons come into this season picked to finish third, just ahead of Westfield State. The Falcons finished 8-6 in the MASCAC tied with the Owls, with a fourth place finish in 2019.
Westfield State graduated five players after the 2019 season, with the majority of their talent returning in 2020.
The Owls finished the 2019 season with a record of 12-25 overall, 8-6 in MASCAC.
Junior Sarah Meunier (Deerfield, MA) was named Utility All-Conference honoree for the 2019 season, finishing with a .333 batting average, .508 slugging percentage, two home runs, 18 RBI, and two stolen bases.
On the pitcher’s mound, junior Emily Arredondo (Woburn, MA) returns after leading the team with 101.1 innings pitched last season.
Senior infielder Kaitlynn Prophet (Bellingham, MA) looks to lead the Owls to another successful performance with 13 runs batted in and an on-base percentage of .370 in 2019.
Sophomore outfielder Colleen Hughes (Hanson, MA) will return to Westfield with a high-powered offense, recording 26 hits and 19 runs batted in last season with a .292 batting average.
The Owls will travel to Clermont, Florida to begin the 2020 regular season playing in ten games during spring break week, beginning on Saturday March 7 against New England College in a doubleheader.
Opening Day for Westfield State is set for March 18 at home where they will host the Sage College Gators in a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM, respectively. – Courtesy of Westfield State University sports
