FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – The visiting Bridgewater State University softball team split a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader with Framingham State University on Saturday afternoon at Maple Street Field.

The Bears posted a 1-0 shutout victory in the opener, while the host Rams earned the split with a 7-1 win in the night cap. 

With the split, Framingham is now 26-10 on the year and 12-2 in the MASCAC. The Rams earned their first outright MASCAC regular season title and will be the top seed in next week's MACAC Tournament.

The Bears go to 15-19 on the season and 7-7 in league play. Bridgewater is seeded fifth in the MASCAC Tournament and will travel to #4 seed Worcester State University on Wednesday (4:00 PM) for an opening round game against the Lancers.

The Bears plated the only run of the opener in the top of the first inning. Senior Breanna Shaffer (Plainville, Mass.) singled to lead off the game and eventually scored from third on a wild pitch.

Bridgewater senior right-hander Kathleen Bailey (Bayport, NY) was impressive in the circle for the Bears recording her tenth win of the season and second shutout. Bailey went the distance and allowed just two hits with eight strikeouts and kept the Rams off the scoreboard.

Sophomore Kelsi Gunarathne (North Providence, RI) took the loss in the opener for the Rams despite allowing just one earned run on three hits with nine strikeouts.

In game two, the Rams received a three run homer from junior Anna Dziok (Southampton, Mass.) in the bottom of the first inning to take the lead for good.

The Bears cut the deficit to 3-1 in the top of the second on an RBI single by sophomore Courtney Gouveia (Taunton, Mass.), but the Rams added two more in the bottom of the inning on a two-run double by junior Bridget McGrail (Worcester, Mass.).

An RBI double from junior Megan Downing (Hanson, Mass.) and an RBI fielder's choice by Dziok in the fourth accounted for the Rams final runs in the game.

Junior Jessica Pietersen (Norton, Mass.) earned the win for the Rams going seven innings and allowing one earned run on four hits.  Bailey took the loss going an inning and allowing three earned runs on four hits.