Trailblazers split with visiting Framingham State

Williamstown, MA- The MCLA Trailblazers played host to conference foe Framingham State this afternoon. The Trailblazers won the first game 5-2 before dropping the second game 4-0. The Trailblazers now have an overall record of 6-14 and 2-4 in the MASCAC while Framingham has a record of 8-15, 2-4.

Framingham jumped out on Trailblazer pitcher Rachel Quackenbush in the first inning. Tiffanie Marsh led off with a single to center was sacrificed to second and came around to score on Shelby Phillips double to left. The Rams went on to score again in the second inning on a wild pitch.

With the Rams leading 2-0, the Trailblazer bats got hot as they went on to score five runs over the last four innings, three of those coming in the third inning. In the third, Sam Boyle led off with a single and advanced to second on Alex Romano's bunt single. Both Boyle and Romano would come around to score on a misplayed sacrifice bunt by Michaela DiNicola. DiNicola took third on the play and would score on Quackenbush's sacrifice fly. The Trailblazers scored again in the fourth when Quackenbush would single home Shelbi Clary who led off with a walk. MCLA scored their fifth and final run of the game when Jen Sicinski walked and scored on Sierra Bailey's double.

Quackenbush went 1 for 3 at the plate with two RBI's while Meczywor was 1 for 2.

After dropping the first game, Framingham came into the second game scoring two runs in the first inning and then two more in the sixth inning to secure themselves their second conference win. Framingham scored two runs on two stolen bases and two Trailblazer errors. Alyssa Begin reached on an infield error before stealing second and scoring on Phillips single. Phillips herself would steal second and come around to score on Helen Falzone single.

Begin and Phillips would both reach base in the sixth inning and score. Begin reached on an error and would score on Phillips double. Phillips advance to third when the Trailblazers tried to get Begin out at home, and would score on a wild pitch.

The Trailblazers could only muster two hits against winning pitcher Begin. MCLA had a chance to score in sixth inning when Meczwyor walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on an infield out but was thrown out at the plate trying to score on Samantha Barbarotta's infield hit. The Trailblazers would put runners on first and second in the bottom of the seventh but couldn't push across a run.

Phillips went 2 for 3, scoring two runs and collecting two RBI's for the Rams.

Quackenbush (6-7) went the distance but took the loss.  On the afternoon she collected 20 strikeouts, 12 of which came in the second game.

The Trailblazers return to the field tomorrow as they host Westfield State for a doubleheader starting at 2:00pm.