Click here for Worcester State-Fitchburg State box score

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Click here for Bridgewater State-Fitchburg State box score

Courtesy Bridgewater State Sports Information

MCLA 2, Bridgewater State 1

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- MCLA freshman Rachel Quackenbush (Hoosick Falls, NY) tossed a six-hitter with nine strikeouts as she helped lead the second-seeded Trailblazers to a 2-1 triumph over #1 Bridgewater State in the Semifinal round of the MASCAC Softball Tournament this afternoon at Alumni Park.

MCLA (21-20) advances to their first conference championship game since the 2003 campaign tomorrow at 12 PM while the Bears (23-15) try to stave off elimination against fourth-seeded Fitchburg State in the final contest of the semifinal round at 4 o'clock.

Trailing 1-0 with two outs in the top of the sixth, freshman Megan Boyer (Clarksburg, MA) induced a slow roller to the hole at shortstop.

But the ball got by the third baseman and allowed both freshman Michaela DiNicola (Lanesboro, MA) and sophomore Amanda Meczywor (Adams, MA) to score the go-ahead runs. Both reached base on an infield single and a fielder's choice and moved into scoring position on a base-knock to the shortstop by freshman Tenelle Ciampa (Adams, MA).

Early on Bridgewater State wasted a lead-off triple by sophomore Jessica Laudati (Berkley, MA) in the bottom of the second before taking the 1-0 edge on an RBI double by Laudati in the fourth to drive in junior Jill Welch(Hubbartston, MA).

With Laudati at third, the Bears looked poised to add to their lead with one man down, but Quackenbush bore down and ended the threat by ringing up the next two batters on strikes.

Junior Amber White (Middleboro, MA) tossed three perfect frames before she found herself in a jam in the top of the fourth.

Senior Kendra Hobbs (Haverhill, MA) reached on a misplayed bunt play by the catcher and then DiNicola reached on a fielder's choice in an attempt to get the lead-runner at second. After sophomore Angelica Perfido (Whately, MA) helped juice the bases on an infield single, White responded by fanning the next two batters to end the Trailblazer rally.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Bears nearly scored the equalizer to force extra innings, but the Trailblazers ended the contest when senior Brianna Strecker (Waterford, CT) was tagged in a run-down before freshman Meaghan Pacheco (Somerset, MA) crossed home plate with two outs.

Quackenbush (11-6) yielded the lone earned run and issued two walks in her 12th complete game  of the campaign and 17th start.

White (12-6) recorded a season-best 12 strikeouts in the defeat as she gave up two unearned runs on four hits and walked no one. The punch-out total was one shy of equaling her career high.

The Bears were hurt by multiple defensive lapses including four errors in the game.

Laudati was 3-for-3 and a home-run shy of the cycle as she was the lone multi-hitter in the contest. The Bears also led in base-knocks, 6-4.

Courtesy Bridgewater State Sports Information

Bridgewater State 6, Fitchburg State 2

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Junior Amber White (Middleboro, MA) tossed five scoreless innings with six strikeouts as she helped lead top-seeded Bridgewater State to a 6-2 triumph over #4 Fitchburg State in the second elimination game of the MASCAC Softball Tournament at Alumni Park this afternoon.

With the victory, Bridgewater State (23-15, 11-3 MASCAC) advances to tomorrow's championship round as it hosts the Trailblazers of MCLA at 12 p.m. Fitchburg State closes out its season with an overall record of 20-22.

In the bottom of the second inning, Bridgewater State nearly took the lead as junior Jill Welch (Hubbardston, MA) led off with a single up the middle and following a pop up, senior Brianna Denucci (Newton, MA) drew and walk before both runners moved into scoring position with a double steal.

But Falcon starter Brittany Whiting (Sharon, MA) set down the next two hitters to preserve the scoreless stalemate.

The hosts broke the deadlock in the bottom of the fourth inning as senior Melissa Harmon (Shrewsbury, MA) drove home sophomore Jessica Laudati (Berkley, MA) with an RBI single and eventually came around to score on a fielding miscue for the 2-0 margin after four innings of play.

Fitchburg State threatened in the top of the fifth when sophomores Amanda Whitelaw (Flemington, NJ) and Colleen Flaherty (Stoughton, MA) connected on back-to-back hits to open the inning, but White worked out of inning, inducing a pair of groundouts and a strikeout to end the threat

The Bears broke open the contest in the bottom of the fifth frame, scoring four runs on three hits and pair of miscues. Sophomore Jocelyn Bettencourt (Plymouth, MA) came home on a wild pitch before Harmon plated Laudati with a run scoring ground-out to second base for the 6-0 advantage.

The Falcons broke the shutout in the top of the six when junior Emily Pomer (Groveland, MA) singled, moved to second on a throwing error and scored on a run-scoring single off the bat of freshman Tori Cyrus (Everett, MA) to make the score 6-1.

The Green and Gold didn't go away quietly, however, as junior Marissa Binnall (Fitchburg, MA) reached on an infield single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on base hit from Pomer for the final score.

Harmon led the Bears offensively with a double, one run scored and two RBI while Laudati chipped in with a two runs scored.

Whitelaw paced the Falcons attack, posting a pair of singles as Pomer aided the offense, going 2-for-3 at the dish with one run scored and one RBI.

In the circle, White improved to 13-6 on the season, allowing just two hits without allowing a run for Bridgewater State. Whiting (8-12) shouldered the loss, yielding just two earned runs on eight hits with seven punch-outs in the complete game effort.

Courtesy Worcester State Sports Information

Fitchburg State 1, Worcester State 0

Bridgewater, MA --- Fitchburg State junior Shannon Fitzgerald (Blackstone, MA) drove in sophomore Colleen Flaherty (Stoughton, MA) on a squeeze bunt in the top of the seventh to help lift the fourth-seeded Falcons to a 1-0 triumph over #3 Worcester State in the first elimination game of the MASCAC Tournament Softball Semifinals this morning at Bridgewater State's Alumni Field.

With the win the Falcons improve to 20-21 and will play the loser of top-seeded Bridgewater State and #2 MCLA match-up at 1 PM. The Lancers fall to 23-16 and await word of a possible ECAC Division III New England Softball Tournament berth on selection Monday.

Through the first six innings of play, both teams had a frustrating time at the plate as they combined to strand nine runners on base.

WSU's best chance to score came in the bottom of the fourth when freshman Hayley Terry (N. Dighton, MA) reached on a lead-off infield single and after a strikeout, sophomore Hillary Hart (Clinton, MA) followed with a solo base-knock to left.

But junior Kerry Alcott (Groton, MA) set down her next two batters to end the frame.

Fitchburg State also left runners in scoring position in the top of the fourth and sixth innings.Junior Ashley Forgues (Fitchburg, MA) started the rally in the fourth with a single and moved to second on her MASCAC-best 23rd swipe of the season.

However, senior Hannah Everson (Methuen, MA) induced a pair of pop-outs and fanned a batter to finish off the frame.

In the top of the seventh, Flaherty began the inning by reaching on an errant throw by the shortstop. Flaherty was then sacrificed and got to third on an infield single. With runners on the corners, Fitzgerald laid down a bunt to the pitcher, but Everson's throw to the plate was not in time.

After the run crossed the plate, Everson retired the side to give her team a chance in the last of the seventh. But Alcott tossed a perfect stanza to end the contest.

Alcott (12-10) tossed a four-hitter with five strikeouts and she issued one free pass. Everson (9-7) was the tough luck loser in her 15th complete game in as many starts. She yielded the lone unearned run of the contest and fanned eight.

Forgues was the lone multi-hitter for either side as she was 2-for-3. Both squads were even in hits for the game (4-4).