By Sophia Oppedisano
Asst. Sports Editor
The Framingham State softball team returned from Florida with a 4-4 record after playing four doubleheaders against opponents from New York, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts.
Framingham began the Spring Games series by splitting a doubleheader with a win against Plattsburgh State and a loss to University of Wisconsin-River Falls March 17.
Talia Duca, a sophomore catcher, and Eliza Carignan, a freshman utility player, hit their first collegiate home runs in the win over Plattsburgh. Duca batted 2-for-2 with three RBIs and Carignan went 3-for-2 with two RBIs.
Senior pitcher Ally Moran earned the win in the circle against the Plattsburgh Cardinals, throwing a complete game. This first win for the Rams was one of Moran’s three throughout the week.
March 18 brought another split doubleheader for the Rams starting with a loss to University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. The Rams held the line in a 3-2 win against Buffalo State University in game two, as Marina Cadena, a freshman outfielder, drove in the game-winning runs early on in the matchup.
Cadena went 3-for-3 with two home runs and five RBIs in a 17-4 win over SUNY Brockport March 19. She also went 3-for-3 and hit her first collegiate home run in a 7-2 win over Smith College March 19.
She was awarded both MASCAC Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week March 25.
Brooke Grassia, a junior middle infielder, also found success against SUNY Brockport as she collected her 100th career hit.
“It was a fun week of achievements all around for the team. The personal things are fun but it’s being able to appreciate them with those around you that make it all worth it,” Grassia said.
Grassia went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored, helping to secure the win for the Rams over the Brockport Golden Eagles.
The Rams’ win over Smith College featured two home runs by Captain Gwendolyn Carpenter, a fifth-year. Captain Caroline Hughes, a senior, earned the win in the circle after throwing a complete game.
In addition to the accomplishments of the players, Head Coach Larry Miller surpassed the Framingham State softball coaching mark for victories with his 195th win for the program coming against SUNY Brockport.
“Milestones like that are great - it’s a testament to the expectations we’ve built in the program and being able to recruit high-quality student-athletes,” Miller said.
“I actually had no idea it was coming,” he added.
Miller has been the head coach of the Rams Softball Program since 2015. He has led the program to five MASCAC Tournament Championships, four MASCAC Regular Season titles, and five NCAA Tournament appearances.
Miller said part of his job is to prepare the team for those moments.
Coming home from Florida, Miller said the goals of the team are to stay in their rhythm and get their reps in.
He said the team’s goal returning from Florida is “to be right around .500. We’re playing a schedule meant to challenge us. We’re playing some really good teams and we want to see what we’re made of.
“We play a solid and fundamentally sound game,” Miller added.
The Rams concluded their trip with losses to Endicott and University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
After returning to Framingham, the Rams split a doubleheader against Emmanuel College March 27 with an 8-2 loss and a 4-3 win on the back of a walk-off home run by senior first baseman Kelsey McGuill.
The Rams now hold an overall record of 5-7 with conference play commencing against Bridgewater State University April 2.