Box Score | Tournament Bracket

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. --- Sophomore Kim Brennan’s (Douglas, MA) go-ahead RBI in the fifth broke a 1-1 tie and helped propel No. 2 seeded Westfield State, 3-2, over No. 3 seeded Salem State in the second elimination game of the 2008 MASCAC Softball Tournament hosted by Bridgewater State College.

The Owls will meet the Bears tomorrow in the 2008 MASCAC Softball Tournament Championship game at 10 A.M, which will be at Alumni Park. If necessary, a second game will be played following the conclusion of the first game. The Vikings end the 2008 season with a record of 20-21.

Salem State went up 1-0 in the top of the first on an RBI single by freshman leftfielder Taylor Orlando (Danvers, MA).

Westfield answered back and knotted the score on a sacrifice fly by Brennan.

The score remained tied 1-1 through the next four innings until Westfield scored the go-ahead and insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore leftfielder Danielle Lutenegger (Sunderland, MA) led off the inning with a double and then junior centerfielder Jackie Mason (Florida, MA) singled to right field, with both runners advancing to second and third on the throw back into the infield.

Brennan plated Lutenegger for the go-ahead run and then junior first baseman Katie Gorman (Feeding Hills, MA) drove in Mason for a key insurance run, to make the score 3-1.

In the top of the sixth, Salem State promptly got the first two runners on with a single and a double, to put runners on second and third with no outs. Junior Chelsea Sylvia (South Dartmouth, MA) was then summoned from the bullpen and retired the first batter she faced on a pop-up. Pinch hitter Judie Garceau (Ware, MA) then hit a bloop RBI single to score Orlando, but Sylvia would end the inning getting two quick outs.

The Vikings had a golden opportunity in the top of the seventh when they had runners on the corners with one out, but they failed to capitalize as Sylvia notched a pair of strikeouts to end the game as she picked up her first save of the season.

Junior Casey Riddell (Orange, MA) improved her record to 7-5 in the circle for the Owls. Ridell threw five-plus innings giving up two runs while scattering nine hits. She also allowed one walk.

Junior Katelyn Doherty (Lynnfield, MA) was tagged for the loss as she went the distance for Salem State. Doherty (13-8) went six innings allowing three runs on eight hits. She also finished with two walks and a strikeout.

Mason went 3-for-4 with two runs to help pace Westfield State while Lutenegger went 3-for-3 with a run scored. Brennan also chipped in with two RBI’s.

For the Vikings, Orlando went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI while sophomore centerfielder Jess Baird (Worcester, MA) went 2-for-4.

Release written by Steven M. Miller, Jr --- Sports Information Correspondent