By Sophia Oppedisano
Asst. Sports Editor
Framingham State softball pitcher Ally Moran is making her mark in the circle this season, becoming the winningest pitcher in softball program history April 2.
Moran, a senior, is in her final season pitching for the program and recorded her 53rd win against Bridgewater State, shattering the previous record of 52 wins by alumna Kelsi Gunarathne ’19.
She recorded her 55th win with a 9-1 victory over Massachusetts Maritime Academy April 7.
Moran said the record was not on her radar until she recorded her 50th win in Florida March 19.
“When we were in Florida and I got the 50th win, my dad said to me, ‘You know, if you get three more wins, you can do something pretty cool - you're breaking a record,’” she said.
Moran is one of the two full-time members of the pitching staff for Framingham this season along with senior Caroline Hughes.
After recording 10 wins already this season, Moran noted the work that goes in between games.
“We're going to be pitching - whether it's light or working on certain spins - working on stamina, we're throwing most days. … That's definitely what contributes most to how we perform in games,” she said.
Originally from Wilmington, Moran is no stranger to the effort of this kind of pitching regimen.
“I think out of my four years in high school, I pitched in every game,” she said.
During her senior season, Moran met Head Coach Larry Miller and attended a clinic at Framingham State.
“I was deciding between a couple of schools, but I think I always knew in the back of my head that I wanted to come here just because I really liked the coaching staff and I really liked the school. I think that was what led me here,” she said.
Miller said, “Ally is a true competitor - she has developed into a truly well-rounded college pitcher. She's a team player who is always up to take the ball, and her stats over her four seasons are starting to show it.”
Since arriving at Framingham, Moran has appeared in 91 games and boasts career stats of a 1.99 ERA, 343 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.18.
She has also appeared as the starting and winning pitcher in the most recent MASCAC Tournament Championship game wins for the program in 2022 and 2023.
The team's early success this season is guiding them in the direction of their third consecutive MASCAC Championship appearance, where Moran hopes to secure the three-peat.
“It's a lot of fun and it's also very nerve-wracking. Every year, it's nerve-wracking no matter what we look like going into it, but it is a lot of fun, and I definitely enjoy it,” she said.
Moran said while the ultimate goal is the championship, she wants her last year with the program to be about having fun with the team.
She said she admires her teammates’ genuine camaraderie and love for the game.
“We were very successful at winning in the past and that's not really what it's all about. It's about loving your teammates and loving being at practice and doing what you're doing,” she said.
As of press time, Moran has recorded 55 wins and is on the precipice of shattering yet another record for career appearances. The current record for appearances (99) is held by Gunarathne ’19. Moran has made 91 appearances and with 18 regular-season games remaining in the season, she is on track to set another record and reach the milestone of 100 career appearances.
“She's had a wonderful career - she will go down as one of the most successful pitchers in program history and her impact on our program will be missed when she graduates this spring,” Miller said.