Framingham, Mass. - The second seeded Westfield State University softball team defeated third seed Salem State University 6-2 this afternoon to advance to the championship round of the 2017 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Softball Tournament at Maple Street Field.
With the win, the Owls improve to 19-17 on the year and advance to the championship round of the tournament on Sunday afternoon against the top seeded Rams of Framingham State University at noon at Maple Street Field.
With the loss, the Vikings close their season at 23-17.
Salem State jumped out to the early lead with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Sophomore Samantha Holey (Lynn, Mass.) laced a ball up the middle with runners on second and third. The Westfield second baseman was able to knock the ball down, but did not have a play as two runners came around to score.
The Owls answered in the bottom of the inning with three runs to take the lead for good. With runners on second and third, senior Erika Gouin (Hampden, Mass.) single to right scoring a run, but an error in the outfield allowed the tying run to come home and Gouin to advance to third. Junior Angelica Banning (East Granby, Conn.) followed reaching on an error allowing Gouin to score the go ahead run.
The Owls extended the lead in the bottom of the third on an RBI infield single by senior Sydney Ezold (Westfield, Mass.) and added a pair in the fourth on a two run single by Gouin to reach the final margin.
Sophomore Sarah Eugenio (Marshfield, Mass.) earned the victory in the circle for the Owls going four innings and allowing two earned runs on three hits, while Julia Sullivan (West Barnstable, Mass.) tossed three innings of scoreless relief.
Sophomore Illish Burney (Bristol, Conn.) took the loss for the Vikings going six innings and allowing six runs, one earned, on eight hits.
