Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

SALEM, Mass. -- Bridgewater State College recorded a doubleheader sweep of Salem State College by the scores of 1-0 and 8-3 in a Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) softball twinbill played this afternoon at Collins Cove Park in Salem.

The Bears (15-3 overall; 2-0 MASCAC) received an outstanding pitching performance in the opener from senior righty Alyssa Verronneau (Acushnet, MA).  Verronneau allowed just one hit, a fourth inning lead-off infield single to the shortstop hole by freshman Michelle Grifoni (Peabody, MA).  BSC senior shortstop Rachael Sprague (Duxbury, MA) ranged far to her right on Grifoni's hit and fielded the ball claenly, but her throw to first was just late. 

Verronneau collected eight strike outs, including five looking K's, and walked a pair.  She allowed just one batter to reach third and one to go as far as seocnd.  Verronneau retired the last 12 batters she faced after giving up Grifoni's hit.  She struck out the side in the fifth and registered two k's in both the second and third frames.  

Sophomore Tracey Sanko (Windsor, CT) knocked in the lone run when she hit a two-out single just over the second base bag to plate junior Lauren Cucinotta (Franklin, MA) from third.  Cucinotta led off the inning with a single and then stole second and third to set up the eventual game-winning run.

SSC senior pitcher Katelyn Doherty (Lynnfield, MA) allowed just four hits, struck out three and walked just one in going the distance. 

Sprague and sophomore Heather McPherson (Mansfield, MA) each added singles for the Bears.

In game two, the Bears sent ten batters to the plate in a five-run fourth inning to erase a 3-2 deficit.  Junior Meghan Noyes (Stoughton, Mass.) tied the game with an RBI triple to get the Bears going.  Noyes, along with the three of the next four hitters, would score to give the visitors a four-run lead.  BSC senior Allie LeBlanc (Somerset, MA) added an RBI single in the sixth.  Sophomore Penny King (Hanover, MA) went 3-for-3 and scored three times and sophomore Bridget Engwer (Wrentham, MA) went 2-for-2 and scored twice for the Bears.

The Lady Vikings built their 3-2 third inning lead courtesy of a two-run inside-the-park-homer off the bat of sophomore Taylor Orlando (Danvers, MA) and an RBI single by Grifoni.  Junior Amanda Scola (Leominster, MA) added a double, a single and scored once for the Lady Vikings while sophomore Lauren Concannon (Everett, MA) had a single.

Sanko had an RBI ground out in the third inning and added an RBI single in the Bears' five-run fourth.  Her base hit in the fourth extended her hitting streak to an impressive 13 games.

Senior Stephanie Pierce (Worcester, MA) got the win in relief for the Bears in game two as she hurled 4 2/3 innings giving up no runs on two hits with no walks and three strikeouts. Pierce (6-2) entered the game in the bottom of the third and allowed an inherited runner to score.  She then retired 12 of the final 13 batters she faced.