By Jose Carrasquillo
On Friday, Apr. 14, the Rams faced West9eld in a doubleheader, where they won both games to extend their win streak to three.
The offense came rare for both sides as there wasn’t a hit allowed until the bottom of the second inning.
Framingham 9nally got the offense going in the top of the fourth inning with a Mycala Moody double to lead off. After an Anna Dziok pop out and a Kayla Finacchiaro strike out, Marissa Flynn knocked a double to left 9eld scoring Moody. Megan Downing kept the hot bats going with a double, scoring Flynn to extend the lead to 2-0. Kylie Boyle singled and advanced Downing to third. Lauren Salisbury capped off the inning with a single to center 9eld, scoring Downing and advancing Boyle to second, increasing the lead to 3-0.
Kelsi Gunarathne continued dominating against the Owls, she didn’t allow a run until the bottom of the 9fth.
In the 9fth inning after an Emma Dunbar Ty out to short, Bri Tortora got on base with a walk. Liz Kelly knocked in a triple to score Tortora cutting the lead to 3-1. Julia Sullivan grounded out to short, but drove in Kelly to cut the lead to 3-2.
Framingham scored one more run in the top of the seventh inning, following a Moody triple and a run on an error by the centerfielder.
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The second game of the doubleheader would prove to be more difficult for the Rams as they won the game with a score of 6-5.
The Rams offense got started early with a Dayna Marchant single, followed by a Moody double. Dziok forced a walk loading the bases for Framingham. Finacchiaro grounded out to second, but advanced Moody to third and scored Marchant. Framingham couldn’t capitalize with runners in scoring position, as they popped up and grounded out to end the inning.
The Owls responded right away after Kelly got on base due to an error by the shortstop. After a Sullivan ground out, Maddy Atkocaitis singled to center9eld scoring Kelly to tie the game 1-1.
In the top of the third, Marchant singled to get on base, following a sacri9ce bunt from Moody, Dziok singled to center9eld advancing Marchant to third. Finacchiaro reached base on a 9elder’s choice, but drove in Marchant after Dziok was forced out at second base, extending the lead to 2-1.
West9eld State responded right away in the bottom half of the inning. After Sullivan reached base on a 9elder’s choice, Atokocaitis tripled and drove in a run to tie the game at 2-2.
After Boyle reached base on a fielder’s choice, Downing stole third leading to a Salisbury sacrifice fly to advance the runners and scoring Downing. Following Desrocher’s ground out to advance Boyle to third, Marchant singled to center 9eld scoring Boyle, extending the lead to 4-2.
Jessica Pietersen pinched hit for Desrocher with two on base, she drove in Boyle and advance Salisbury to third base, to extend the lead to 5-2.
The Rams scored one more run before the game was over and the Owls scored three runs in the last two innings.
With the win, Framingham extended its win streak to four.
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On Apr. 17, Framingham took on Worcester State in a MASCAC doubleheader at home.
It was a duel of the pitchers as offense came scarcely as there wasn’t a hit allowed for either side until the top of the third inning.
Framingham broke the seal in the third after Marchant started the inning with a single. Following a Moody single and a throwing error from the Lancers, Marchant advanced to third. After Dziok popped out and a Finacchiaro strike out, Flynn knocked in a single, scoring both Moody and Marchant, giving them a lead of 2-0.
Gunararthne threw a one-hit game with seven strikeouts and no earned runs, giving her a record of 11-3.
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In the second game of the doubleheader it would be more of the same from Framingham as good pitching would lead the team to an 8-2 win.
In the bottom of the 9rst inning, Moody and Flynn knocked in back-to-back singles to get the bats going early. Dziok singled, scoring both Moody and advancing Flynn, after beating the throw to first. Finacchiaro singled which scored Flynn and advanced Dziok to third base. Following a pitching change Downing doubled knocking in Dziok and advancing Finacchiaro to third.
Worcester State couldn’t get the offense going until the top of the third, after a Kaiulani Ennis single. Following a Sydney Despres walk, the bases were loaded with two outs and Rachel Couto singled, advancing Despres and Ennis, while scoring Dakota Smith-Porter, cutting the lead to 3-1.
In the bottom of the third, Downing walked with two out to set up Boyle for a two-run shot, extending the lead to 5-1.
Following a Haley Scola walk and a Kaci Panarelli double that advanced Scola to third, Smith-Porter grounded out but drove in Scola and advanced Panarelli to third.
The Rams kept the bats hot as they scored three runs to add to their lead in the final three innings. Flynn, Dziok, Finacchiaro, Downing and Boyle all brought in one run a piece, with Moody knocking in two runs to lead the way for Framingham.
Pietersen went seven innings, allowing only 9ve hits, and two earned runs, giving her a record of 9-4 on the season.