Kelley Fluet pitched nine shutout innings before Salem scored twice in the 10th. File photo by Mickey Curtis)
SALEM – Salem State University swept a softball doubleheader from Westfield State University, 2-1 (10 innings), 8-1, on Sunday.
The Vikings improved their record to 14-8 overall and 5-1 in MASCAC play. Westfield State falls to 4-19 overall and 2-4 in the MASCAC.
Game one was a battle of the pitchers. Senior Alyssa Bryan (Stoneham, MA) started for the Vikings and junior Kelley Fluet (Worcester, MA) was on the mound for the Owls. Bryan surrendered just two hits through six innings. Fluet had a no hitter going into the bottom of the fourth until Jenn Toussaint (Reading, MA) ripped a two-out single to left center field.
The game continued scoreless into extra innings. In the top of the 10th inning, the Owls took advantage of the tie breaker rule that places the last eligible batter from the previous inning on second base.
Sophomore Kat Robinson (East Hampton, CT) was placed on second base, and junior Molly Dunbar (Weymouth, MA) advanced her to third on a sacrifice bunt. Courtney Begin (Salem, MA) tried to bunt in the run but heads up defense kept Robinson at third. Sophomore Vicki Hill (West Springfield, MA) then hit an RBI single to put Westfield ahead 1-0.
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the 10th, senior Lauren Garchinsky (Saugus, MA) was placed on second base. Toussaint led off with a double that scored Garchinsky and tied the game 1-1.
After freshman Shelia O’Sullivan entered the game as a pinch runner, senior Christina Cipriani (Peabody, MA) hit a bunt single that advanced O’Sullivan to third and scored her on the throw to first for the walk off victory for the Vikings.
Bryan pitched a complete game 10 innings, giving up just five hits, and striking out four in the win to make her 8-2 on the season. Fluet received the loss, giving up five hits and striking out four to stand at 2-7 on the season.
In the second game, the Vikings jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first. Bryan led off the inning with a stand up triple. Sarra Bergeron (Methuen, MA) hit an RBI single to score Bryan.Toussaint drove in a run for a 2-0 lead on heads up base running by Bergeron.
Salem added to its lead in the bottom of the second when Michelle Flower (Reading, MA) led off with a single. Cara Crowley (Lynn, MA) advanced her to second on a sacrifice bunt. Catcher Kayla Kirby added a single in the inning and Bryan knocked in the run to put the Vikings up 3-0 after two innings.
The Vikings offense continued to produce runs as they connected on 14 hits, from seven different batters. Bryan was 2 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored, Bergeron and Garchinsky and Flower all were 2 for 3. Toussaint was 3-3 with two RBIs. Cipriani added two RBI.
Bergeron pitched a complete game improving her record to 3-0. She struck out seven giving up four hits.
Emily Mailloux pitched four innings for the Owls, giving up 10 hits and striking out three. Freshman Brittany Martel (Barkhamsted, CT) entered in relief for the Owls, pitching two innings and giving up four hits and one run and striking out two batters.
The Vikings are in action Monday afternoon when they travel to Westfield State to play conference opponent MCLA in a double header. The Owls travel to Mass. Maritime Monday for a conference double header with the Buccaneers.
