Courtesy Westfield State Sports Information

Click here for Game 1 Box Score

Click here for Game 2 Box Score

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Salem State captured the 2010 MASCAC Tournament softball championship by twice defeating Westfield State, 5-1, 6-2, on Sunday, May 9.

Led by sophomore pitcher Katelynn Fanning (East Boston) – the tournament MVP – the Vikings won their first MASCAC postseason tournament to earn a berth in the NCAA Division III tournament. Salem is 33-8-1 overall with three of its losses to Westfield State, including a 4-1 setback in the winner’s bracket on Saturday. Westfield finishes 26-13, setting a school record for most victories in a season.

Fanning, who now has a 21-5 record, pitched in all five of Salem’s tournament games and earned victories in four of them. After tossing a two-hitter in Saturday’s 4-1 loss, she came back Sunday to twirl another two-hitter in handing Westfield its first tournament defeat, 5-1.

In Sunday’s decisive game, she was called to action in the fourth inning with the Vikings leading 3-2. She allowed one hit with no strikeouts and no walks over the final three and two-thirds innings.

Westfield, the designated visiting team for Sunday’s second game, took a 1-0 first-inning lead on an RBI single by Kim Brennan (Douglas).

Salem struck for three runs on four hits in the bottom of the first off Westfield freshman starting pitcher Courtney Begin (Salem/Bishop Fenwick). Begin was yanked with no outs after giving up a two-run double to Jess Baird (Worcester).

Westfield scored a run in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Danielle Lutenegger (Sunderland) to make it 3-2.

But Salem responded with two big runs in the home half of the fourth when sophomore Michelle Grifoni (Peabody) homered over the left field fence.

Salem out-hit Westfield, 10-7. Baird was 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI, Taylor Orlando (Danvers) was 3 for 3 with two runs scored and Sarah Brown (North Attleboro) was 2 for 4.

Brennan was 2 for 3 with an RBI for Westfield and Kerin DeGirolamo (North Attleboro) doubled.

Madelaine Tomich (Alford) relieved Begin in the first inning and gave up six hits and five walks in six innings.

In Sunday’s first championship round game, Fanning tossed a two-hitter and Gabbie Vitalie (Danvers) and Grifoni both drove in two runs to pace Salem State to a 5-1 victory to stave off elimination.

Westfield took a 1-0 first-inning lead with the aid of no hits. DeGirolamo and Alicia Gardner (Athol) both walked and advanced to second and third on a passed ball. Allison Allen (Peabody) then drove in the Owls’ only run with a sacrifice fly.

Salem scored three runs in the third inning on four hits. The big blow was a two-run single by Vitale, while Baird had an RBI groundout.

Salem tacked on two insurance tallies in the sixth inning on three hits, including Grifoni’s two-run single to left-center field.

Fanning walked five but the Owls stranded seven base runners. She struck out four.

Tomich allowed seven hits and five walks and fanned five in sustaining the loss.