Softball stuns in comeback win, splits doubleheader

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST

By Sophia Oppedisano Sports Editor The Framingham State Rams softball team took their home turf for a doubleheader against the Simmons University Sharks in a non-conference matchup March 26. The doubleheader marked their first games at home since returning from the programs’ annual spring break trip to Florida where they went 8-2 against nationwide competition. The trip brought their overall record to 10-4 to start the season. The return from Florida brought good news for freshman Audrey Gauthier who was named MASCAC Pitcher and Rookie of the Week March 24. “Honestly it feels a little crazy because I never thought what I was doing deserved much recognition. I was just doing my job and having fun with my team,” she said. The honor was given to Gauthier after she went 4-0 in Florida with an ERA 2.05 and a complete-game shutout win against Endicott College where she recorded 13 strikeouts and only three hits. “I definitely am now recognizing my potential as a pitcher on this team. With these players behind me, I can feel confident on the mound and keep throwing knowing that they’re behind me ready to make the plays to back me up,” Gauthier said. Head Coach Larry Miller said, “We knew this year was going to be different with three freshmen pitchers. They all contributed on the [Florida] trip and Audrey especially found her stride. She’s able to spin the ball really well … she can be very challenging for the opponents.” Gauthier earned the start in the circle for game one against the Sharks and got into some trouble early in the top of the first, walking the two batters at the top of the Sharks order. The Rams recorded an out at third base on a fielder’s choice before Gauthier walked a third batter, loading the bases. Unfortunately for the Sharks, the back end of their lineup could not rise to the occasion to get a few early runs on the board, and Gauthier stepped up with two huge strikeouts to strand all three Shark runners. The Rams stepped up to bat in the bottom of the first and the top of their lineup fell in order, yielding no hits or baserunners. Brooke Grassia, a senior, Makayla Rooney, a graduate student, and Abby Behrikis, a senior, popped up in the infield or struck out, beginning the Rams’ struggles against Sharks’ pitcher Piper Kinney. Gauthier made quick work of the Sharks in the top of the second, allowing one walk and recording a strikeout. Kinney sat the Rams down in order again in the bottom of the second, striking out freshmen Jocelyn Pepe and Gianna Paolino and getting sophomore Eliza Carignan to pop up to the infield. To start the top of the third, the Sharks struck first when their lead-off batter sliced a home run over the right field fence to put the Sharks at a 1-0 advantage. Gauthier bounced back with two quick outs, forcing a lineout to Rooney and recording another strikeout, but she walked the bases loaded once more. A pitch from Gauthier hit the ground out in front of Pepe and the runner on third base jumped at the chance to steal home for a run. Pepe managed not to let the pitch get away from her and found it beneath her knee. She lunged for the runner at the last moment to tag her out and end the inning, limiting the damage to 1-0 Sharks. In the bottom of the third, sophomore Marina Cadena tripled to right-center field, but her teammates were unable to capitalize on her position to score and they went quietly, striking out or popping out. The fourth inning was quiet for both teams. Gauthier recorded another strikeout and the top of the Rams’ lineup continued to struggle. The Sharks began bunting to get runners on in the top of the fifth. The lead-off batter successfully got on base with a bunt and the second batter laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance her teammate to third base. The next batter stepped up and hit a hard line drive directly to Cadena in right field, who stopped the run with a powerful throw to plate. “Having a strong defense is such a dream. It gives me, as a pitcher, some wiggle room knowing I have great players behind me willing to put it all out there to make the plays,” Gauthier said. Gauthier recorded another strikeout to end the inning for the Sharks. Kinney’s pitching continued to stifle Framingham’s lineup in the bottom of the fifth, and the Rams went down in order once again. “Their number one pitcher is very good - we played them two years ago and won 1-0 in extra innings,” Miller said. The top of the sixth inning brought more challenges for Gauthier and the Rams’ defense. The Sharks reached on a fielding error and a bunt before Gauthier managed another two strikeouts. A walk loaded the bases for the Sharks for the third time, but Gauthier was able to turn things around yet again as she stepped up for her most impressive strikeout of the game. A pitch on the outside corner stunned the Simmons’ batter and she struck out looking to end the inning for the Sharks. In the bottom of the sixth, the Rams’ offense clicked. After sophomore Haley Jensen and Cadena struckout to start the inning, Grassia had a hard-fought at bat that ended in a walk, giving the Rams some hope late in the game. With two outs, Behrikis stepped up to the plate. Behrikis didn’t waste time and nailed a two-run home run to left field that brought her teammates charging out of the dugout to meet her and Grassia at the plate. “With that at bat what clicked for me was just taking my last two at bats and adjusting what I needed and moving back in the box to see the pitches better. It was great to be able to help the team out and get the two runs needed to win the game,” Behrikis said. “The offense did a good job later in the game moving to the back of the box to take away some of the rise ball effectiveness and were able to get some timely hits late,” Miller said. With a 2-1 lead on the Sharks, Rooney hit a ball off the center-field wall for a standup double and Pepe quickly brought her home with a double of her own, giving the Rams a bit more insurance heading into the seventh inning. The Sharks, whose relentless cheering and chanting had pervaded the field throughout the game, were effectively quieted. Gauthier stepped up to the circle and sat the Sharks down in order to end the game with a 3-1 win for the Rams. Gauthier walked away with nine recorded strikeouts and one earned run. She tallied six walks and her WHIP now stands at 1.53 and her ERA at 2.33. “In game one, there was a struggle finding the zone and being loose in my pitch, but as the game continued I put more trust in my curve and change, which allowed me to get ahead in counts to get the outs we needed,” Gauthier said. Game two against Simmons ended in a 9-6 loss for the Rams. The Sharks scored four runs in the first three innings, testing freshman pitcher Julie Chisholm. This was Chisholm’s fourth start of the season and she boasts a 2.95 ERA. The Rams scored a run on a fielding error in the fourth and got their own bats going late in the game yet again, as Rooney hit a solo home run and Carignan doubled to bring Pepe across the plate. Cadena also earned an RBI on a single that scored Carignan. With the score locked at 4-4, freshman pitcher Sydney Bednarz made fast foes with the Sharks in the seventh inning with two doubles and a single bringing in an extra five runs for Simmons. The Rams tried to mount a comeback, scoring on a throwing error and a single from Behrikis, but they ultimately fell to the Sharks with a final score of 9-6. The Rams will face off with the Bridgewater State Bears in their first conference matchup of the season in a doubleheader at home March 28. “The big task is getting the newcomers to see what Framingham State softball is all about. I’m really happy with how this team has fought through some tough moments and I’m excited to see how the next phase of the season plays out,” Miller said.