By Adam Levine
Sports Editor
The Framingham State Rams swept back-to-back MASCAC doubleheaders this past weekend, outscoring their opponents 41-5.
The Rams opened their weekend with a sweep of the MCLA Trailblazers in their doubleheader April 15.
Framingham’s offense combined for 15 hits across eight different batters in their 12-0 mercy victory in the first game.
Framingham’s left fielder, Gwen Carpenter, led the Rams with three hits in her three at bats, including a three-run home run in the bottom of the second inning.
Carpenter’s three-run home run contributed to Framingham’s seven runs in the bottom of the second inning. “I just got up there and tried to hit the ball hard. I had some tough at bats the other day and just kind of getting back in the right mindset.”
Carpenter earned MASCAC Player of the Week April 17.
Framingham’s pitching duo of Ally Moran and Rylynn Witek faced 12 and 10 batters respectively and only allowed a combined total of five hits throughout the game.
The Rams’ offensive and fielding dominance helped them cruise to a 12-0 victory over the Trailblazers.
Framingham continued their pressure in the second game of the doubleheader and mercied MCLA 8-0 after five innings.
All nine of Framingham’s batters recorded either a hit or RBI to assert their victory.
Framingham’s pitcher, Olyvia Mendonca, threw for all five innings of the game and recorded her first complete game shutout of the season, only allowing three hits and striking out three of the 16 batters she faced.
The Rams led 6-0 going into the top of the fifth inning, just two runs shy of a mercy victory.
Mendonca said, “At first I was kind of nervous because I knew we had to hold them.
“I knew my team had my back, so I felt like I was still confident in myself,” she added.
Carpenter kicked off Framingham’s fifth inning at bat with an inside-the-park home run.
She said her goal was to “just get on base.” Carpenter added, "I just kept running and I saw that coach was sending me so I just put my speedy shoes on and ran as fast as I could.”
Framingham’s right fielder, Keely Scotia, drove catcher Talia Duca to home plate with an RBI double, closing out the Rams’ 8-0 mercy victory.
Scotia said the walk off RBI “felt good.” She added, “I went up just expecting to try to get a hit and move the runners. I wasn't going up there trying to swing for the fences.”
Framingham’s dominance in the MASCAC continued with their doubleheader sweep over the Salem State Vikings April 17.
An RBI single gave the Vikings a 1-0 lead entering the bottom of the second inning.
Framingham’s Duca kicked off the Rams’ offense with a single to center field. First baseman Kelsey McGuill followed up with a two-run home run to give the Rams a 2-1 lead over the Vikings.
With bases loaded and zero outs on the board, second baseman Brooke Grassia launched a three-RBI double to left field and the Rams quickly took a 5-1 lead.
Grassia said, “I saw that first pitch right down the middle and I sent it.
“Luckily enough, my base runners were actually really on top of their game and saw that ball in the trajectory of it so they knew to go.”
“It was just really nice to have that momentum shift,” Grassia added.
Grassia advanced to home plate on a wild pitch to cap a six-run inning for the Rams.
Framingham led 10-5 entering the bottom of the sixth inning. The offense’s hot bats continued to dominate and the Rams closed out the mercy victory by tacking on three runs without giving up an out.
Mendonca led Framingham to an 8-0 five-inning mercy victory over the Vikings in the second game of their doubleheader.
Mendonca threw her second complete game shutout and only gave up one hit to Salem’s offense.
Framingham’s offense was led by third baseman, Mikayala Rooney, who recorded a hit in each of her three at bats.
Rooney contributed to five of the Rams’ eight runs of the game, hitting an RBI double in both the second and fourth innings and scoring each time she got on base.
She said, “Three for three, I don’t usually do that.
“It feels good to be able to help the team with that win,” Rooney added.
As of presstime, the Rams split games with Johnson & Wales University April 20, and now hold an overall record of 22-10 and a conference record of 8-0, placing them at the top of the MASCAC standings.
The Rams host Worcester State for another MASCAC doubleheader April 22.