Trailblazer Softball swept in MASCAC opener with Framingham

Release courtesy of FSU Sports Information

Framingham, Mass.  – Senior pitcher Kelsi Gunarathne (North Providence, RI) became the Framingham State University softball career strikeout leader as she earned the victory both games of the doubleheader as the Rams swept the MCLA Trailblazers by scores of 11-0 (5 innings) and 5-0 this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference action at Maple Street Field.

THE BASICS:

Scores:         Game 1: Framingham State 11, MCLA 0 (5 innings)
                        Game 2: Framingham State 5, MCLA 0

Records: Framingham State (7-9, 2-0 MASCAC), MCLA (3-15, 0-2 MASCAC)

Location: Maple Street Field – Framingham, Mass.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Game 1 - 

Gunarathne entered the game with 350 career strikeouts needing just two to surpass the old mark of 351 established by former Ram Yaya Faria who wore the black and gold from 2011-13.  Gunarathne struck out the first batter in the second inning tying Faria's mark and broke the record a batter later with her second strikeout of the game and inning.  Gunarathne finished the game going three innings and allowing no hits with four strikeouts.

The Rams plated four runs in the bottom of the first inning taking control of the game.  Sophomore Camille Desrochers (Westford, Mass.) walked and scored on a wild pitch for the first run of the frame.

Senior Lauren Salisbury (Cranston, RI) plated a run with a single to left and junior Kaylea Sherman (North Attleboro, Mass.) followed with an RBI single up the middle.  Salisbury scored from third on the back end of a double steal to account for the final run of the frame·         The Rams added two more in the bottom of the second on a two run double by sophomore Grace Caughey (Mendon, Mass.) pushing the lead to 6-0.

Five runs in the bottom of the third extended the lead to 11-0.  Sophomore Victoria Ziner (Easton, Mass.), Desrochers, Sherman and freshman Farrah Adam (West Springfield, Mass) added RBI base hits in the frame. 

Desrochers finished the game two-for-two for the Rams with three runs scored, a walk and an RBI, while Caughey went two-for-two with two runs scored and two RBI. Adam finished the game with three hits, while Sherman also added two.

Gunarathne and Marissa Velucci (Tyngsboro, Mass.) combined for the no-hitter in the game for the Rams with Gunarathne going three innings and earning the victory and Velucci tossing the final two.

Kara Adams took the loss for the Trailblazers going two innings and allowing 10 runs, nine earned, on 10 hits with three walks.

The Trailblazers lone baserunner of the game came in the top of the first inning when Kaitlyn Berghela reached on an error to lead off the game.

Game 2 -

In game two, neither team scored over the first five and a half innings as Gunarathne cruised along for the Rams and Samantha Feinstein kept the Rams off the board for the Trailblazers.

The Rams finally broke the 0-0 deadlock in the bottom of the sixth inning scoring five runs.  Adam plated the first with a bloop single to center and Sherman followed with a two-run base hit.  Freshman Laela Pepin (Acushnet, Mass.) plated the fourth run of the frame on an RBI single to center and final came when Ziner drove in Pepin with a single to left.

Five runs was all the Rams would need as Gunarathne retired the Trailblazers in order in the seventh recording a pair of strikeouts.

Gunarathne earned her second victory of the day going seven innings and allowing no runs, on three hits with no walks and six strikeouts.

Feinstein took the loss or the Trailblazers going six innings and allowing five runs, three earned, on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Berghela, Kayla Baker and Cassandra Crosier recorded single hits apiece for the Trailblazers in the game and Berghela stole a pair of bases.

The Rams received two hits apiece from Pepin and Salisbury in game two, while Sherman drove in a pair on her one hit in the game.

UP NEXT:

The Rams are back in action on Thursday at UMass Boston for a pair of non-conference games at 3 p.m., while the Trailblazers host Southern Vermont on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.