EMILY MAILLOUX
SALEM – Jen Crovo (Melrose, MA) led the Vikings of Salem State over the Owls of Westfield State in both games of an afternoon doubleheader at Alumni Field. Crovo hit a two run-double in both games, including a walk-off double in game one in extra innings. Salem State improves to 16-12 on the season while also enhancing their Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) to 5-3. The Owls fall to 6-13 on the year while slipping to 2-5 in the MASCAC.
Game 1
Marisa Sanchez (Framingham, MA) and Jess Raymond (Lynn, MA) led off the bottom of the first with back-to-back singles to help the Vikings jump out to an early 3-0 lead after one inning. Sanchez and Raymond scored on a wild pitch and a passed ball while Jenn Toussaint (Reading, MA) also scored on a passed ball after being walked earlier in the inning. Westfield State answered in the next half inning as captain Emily Mailloux (Erving, MA) homered to cut the deficit to 3-1. Salem State extended their lead to 4-1 as Molly McLean (Arlington, MA) doubled, bringing in Sanchez from second.
However, in the fourth inning the Owls tagged Vikings’ relief pitcher Francesca Perrault for two runs as they brought themselves to within one. Breanne Brisceglia (Worcester, MA) clubbed a leadoff triple that set her up to score on a wild pitch in the next at bat. Later in the inning, Emma Dunbar (Weymouth, MA) doubled, scoring Jamie Ricciardi (Tewksbury, MA) for the Owls final run of the fourth. Mailloux kept the Vikings scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, giving their offense a chance to tie in the fifth, which they did. Brisceglia continued to have success at the plate as she brought in the tying run with a double that scored Kat Robinson (East Hampton, CT). Mailloux’s dominance in the later innings forced extra innings, but she surrendered a walk-off double in the bottom of the eighth to Crovo, who brought in Rebecca Krigman (Malden, MA) to secure the 5-4 victory.
Crovo had a great day at the plate as she led Salem State with a 3-for-4 effort, including the game-winning double. Brisceglia led the Owls, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Perrault (8-4) threw four and two third innings where she allowed one run off four hits. Perrault relieved Rachel Cyr (Amesbury, MA) who pitched three and one third innings and allowed three runs on four hits. Mailloux (3-6) earned the loss as she threw a complete game, giving up five runs (three earned) on nine hits.
Game 2
Westfield State beat the Vikings to the scoreboard in the top of the third as Dunbar doubled, bringing in Kelsey Carpenter (Barre, MA) for an early 1-0 edge. However, in the bottom of the inning, Salem State retaliated with two runs off a Toussaint double that scored Sanchez and Raymond who led off the inning with consecutive singles.
After allowing one run in the third, Cyr and Perrault relieved Meghan Black (Winchendon, MA), who went the first four innings. The Vikings’ pitching did not allow another run after the third inning that allowed them to cruise to a 4-1 victory.
Salem State tallied another two runs in the sixth inning off a Crovo double that scored Desiree Moreno (Ashburnham, MA) and Bobbie Dee Regan (Lynn, MA).
Black (5-5) earned the win while Perrault got her first save of the season. Julia Sullivan (West Barnstable, MA) (3-6) picked up the loss after a complete game where she allowed four runs off six hits.
The Owls will travel to Fitchburg State University on April 20th for a MASCAC doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. Salem State will take on the Lancers of Worcester State University on April 20th where they will start a double header beginning at noon. – Courtesy of Salem State sports info
