By Adam Levine
Sports Editor
By Riley Crowell
Staff Writer
The Framingham State Rams swept the Lesley University Lynx in their non-conference doubleheader at the Maple Street Field March 28.
The first game action began with a leadoff home run by Lesley in the top of the first inning.
Framingham’s second baseman, Brooke Grassia, immediately answered back with a leadoff home run of her own in the bottom of the first inning.
Grassia said, “When you go into bat where someone hits a leadoff home run, you just kind of want to get on base - it’s not really a home run mentality.
“After a couple of good pitches, I actually got down on the count, and then I found one that was mine and I decided to hit it out,” she added.
The Rams’ pitching didn’t falter for the rest of the game. Framingham’s pitchers, Ally Moran and Rylynn Witek, collected the next 15 outs without surrendering a run.
The Rams’ offense took full advantage of the strong pitching performance, tallying a total of 14 runs and 16 hits in their 14-1 five-inning mercy-rule win in the first game.
Among the biggest contributors to Framingham’s offensive outburst were Grassia and center fielder Angelina Lynch.
Grassia and Lynch combined to bat 5-for-5 at the plate, both knocking in three runs each and coming around to score every time they got on base.
In addition to Grassia’s leadoff home run, Lynch’s two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning added to Framingham’s slugging at the plate.
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Rams kept up the momentum.
The Rams’ offense shined from the get-go, piecing together five straight hits to start the game and scoring three runs in the first inning.
In the third inning, Framingham’s catcher, Zoe Smyth, launched a two-run home run over the left field fence to extend the Rams lead to 6-0.
Lynch continued her tear at the plate, gathering two more hits, including a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
These contributions brought Lynch’s final stat line for the doubleheader to a perfect 5-for-5, with two home runs and four RBIs.
Across the prior 14 games, Lynch only recorded six hits. Lynch said, “Honestly, lately I haven't been producing what I should be producing, so I feel like that's what I, myself, and my team really needed.”
Framingham’s starting pitcher, Olyvia Mendonca, provided four strong innings of work in the circle, striking out four Lynx batters and conceding zero runs.
Mendonca said, “I was pretty confident with my team behind me to have my back.”
The Rams excelled on the base paths throughout the doubleheader, stealing four bases in game one and another five in game two.
The Rams won both games after five innings due to the eight-run mercy rule.
These victories pushed Framingham over the .500 mark, improving their overall record to 9-7.
The Rams travel to Mass Maritime for their first conference doubleheader April 1.