By Jen Fortin
Framingham State split a pair against Johnson and Wales, losing the first game 3-2, but coming back strong in the second to win 9-2.
Kelsi Gunarathne pitched a complete game, allowing eight hits, three runs, three walks and striking out six.
Kyla Johnson went 2-for-3 and scored one of the two runs for Framingham in the top of the seventh. The other run was scored by Kirsten Dick off of a single to right 5eld by Jessica Pietersen.
The Wildcats scored their 5rst run in the bottom of the third with a sac fly by Meghan Gavin which allowed for Alex Fantasia to cross home plate.
The next two runs were achieved by homeruns from Emily Corecki in the sixth and Kristen Frost in the seventh, which gave the Wildcats the win.
___________________________________________________________________________________
In game two against Johnson and Wales, the FSU bats were much more active. Leadoff hitter Dayna Marchant went 2-for-2 and scored two runs. Marissa Flynn and Kayla Finacchiaro each went 3-for-4 and scored one run.
Pietersen pitched seven innings, with one strikeout, two runs and three hits.
The Rams got on the board first in the top of the third with an RBI by Flynn that scored Marchant. The Wildcats answered in the bottom of the inning with a steal of home plate by Taylor Fay.
In the next inning, the Rams were just as aggressive as Johnson and Wales, when they stole home on a play similar to the one in the previous inning. Two more runs scored in the inning on singles by Lauren Salisbury and Marchant. A sac fly by Pietersen enabled Salisbury to score and Flynn’s single down the right field line allowed for Marchant to score.
Johnson and Wales scored again oH of another solo homerun from Corecki. At the end of the inning, the Rams led 6-2.
A three-run homerun in the top of the seventh by Finacchiaro boosted FSU to nine and a strikeout and two groundouts in the bottom of the inning ended the game.
___________________________________________________________________________________
On Sunday, the Rams played a doubleheader against Fitchburg State and won both games.
Gunarathne pitched game one, facing 27 batters, while striking out three, walking two and allowing only four hits.
Anna Dziok led the team in offense, going 2-for-2, with a homerun.
Fitchburg scored one run early in the 5rst after one of its players reached base on an error, scoring leadoff hitter Damari Grossi.
Dziok’s homerun in the next inning tied the game. Fitchburg’s Emily Compois’ groundout allowed for Grossi to score again in the bottom of the third. Dziok answered again in the top of the fourth, with a single to left 5eld. Dziok scored on that same play after a series of errors by the Falcons.
With the game tied going into the sixth inning, the Rams showed their strength by scoring four runs. Marchant started things with a triple to center and Megan Downing’s bunt allowed for her to score.
Flynn reached on a 5elder’s choice and then stole second. After Dziok walked, both players advanced on a passed ball and occupied second and third. Finacchiaro’s single allowed for both base runners to score.
Johnson’s single scored the fourth and 5nal run of the inning.
FSU held the Falcons in the next two innings, with a double play in the sixth and two foul outs in the seventh to get the win.
___________________________________________________________________________________
In game two against Fitchburg, Pietersen pitched a complete game and allowed only two hits, while striking out four of the 26 batters she faced.
Salisbury went 2-for-3 with one RBI, while Finacchiaro had one hit and two RBIs.
The Rams scored early in the 5rst with a leadoff double from Marchant. With two outs, Dziok’s hit by pitch put two on base. Finacchiaro’s single up the middle brought in both players to score.
FSU’s Kylie Boyle scored a run in the top of the second after Salisbury’s double down the left 5eld line.
The next five innings were quick for both teams. In that span, Fitchburg only reached base once.
The two conference wins boost Framingham to 2-0 in the MASCAC.
___________________________________________________________________________________
The Rams narrowly won against Brandeis University on Wednesday with a 5nal score of 7-6.
Gunarathne and Pietersen combined to pitch seven innings, allowing 11 hits, three walks and two strikeouts.
Dziok and Megan Downing each went 2-for-3, while Finacchiaro had three hits with four RBIs.
The Rams’ solo run in the 5rst inning was scored by Marchant after Finacchiaro’s hit to right field.
Brandeis capitalized in the bottom of the third, beginning with a single to left to put one on. Amanda Shore doubled to center, hitting in one run and then stole third. Shore then crossed home after a single on the next play.
With the bases loaded and a pitching change for the Rams, another run scored after being walked in. The fourth run of the inning came in on a fielder’s choice to second base.
Finacchiaro’s two-run homerun in the fourth, brought the Rams within one, until Brandeis scored another run in the bottom of the inning.
The top of the 5fth proved to be crucial for the Rams, scoring four runs to win the game. Marchant scored on Dziok’s single, Flynn scored on Finacchiaro’s single, and both Dick and Dziok scored on Downing’s single, all hits to center field.
Brandeis scored one more run in the sixth, but was not able to overcome the Framingham lead.
The Rams now sit at 13-6.