By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- There was a rather different ending to the 2024 Bridgewater State University softball season.

After playing Framingham State University in the championship game in four straight Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference tournaments, the Bears exited the postseason following just one game.

BSU was quickly eliminated by Salem State University, 8-0, last spring and finished with a 19-20 record.

The way the '24 season abruptly ended has the Bears on a mission for improvement in 2025.

"This team is motivated," said coach Angela Vecchione, a BSU Athletics Hall of Famer. "They're focused and if they do the little things, the winning takes care of itself.

"I think this team is hungry after losing like that to Salem. I think they use that as motivation to learn from that. That is what we're working with them on, to learn every day."

The Bears leave for South Carolina on Saturday and will play five doubleheaders during spring break in Myrtle.

Opening day is Sunday with games against a pair of Pennsylvania teams, Delaware Valley University at 9 a.m. and Dickinson College at 1 p.m.

BSU has a number of veterans returning, including sophomore Makayla Ansell (Menifee, Calif.), who made the All-MASCAC first team as a designated player, and junior Victoria Becker (Abington, Mass.), an all-conference second team outfielder.

Three pitchers who each made at least eight starts are back and the lineup includes five players who hit at least .310.

"We're hoping for big things," said Vecchione, whose team is picked to finish fourth in the MASCAC after going 6-8. "This team has a great work ethic. They're really holding each other accountable and they are trusting the process and focusing on the small things."

The returning pitchers are sophomore Olivia Hargreaves (Weare, N.H.), who was 7-6 with a 2.68 earned run average in 17 games with 11 starts; senior McKayla Cusack (West Haven, Conn.), who was 3-4 in 13 games with eight starts; and junior Olyvia Mendonca (Taunton, Mass.), who was 6-3 in 15 games with eight starts.

They are joined by sophomore Lily Gagnon (East Haven, Conn.), who played in the field last season.

"The way we're going to do it is that pitchers have strengths and weaknesses and our four have a very different style of pitching," said Vecchione. "It's about finding a balance between opponent one and seeing them again in a doubleheader. It's which one is executing and producing."

The outfield will include right fielder Becker, who batted .343 with 34 hits last season, center fielder Janet Jolly (Raynham, Mass.), a graduate student and 2023 All-MASCAC selection, and Ansell in left field after hitting .369 with 38 hits.

Freshman Caitlyn Clark (Clifton, Va.) and Alison Curran (Braintree, Mass.) provide outfield depth.

Sophomore Sydney Schaefer (Swarthmore, Pa.), the team's leading hitter a year ago with 42 hits and a .389 average, is moving to third base from shortstop.

Junior Angelina Lynch (Taunton, Mass.), who hit .319, is shifting from the outfield to shortstop.

Freshman Isabel Bishop (Lynn, Mass.) and senior Amelia Blake (Raynham, Mass.) will play first base with freshman Sarah Silvia (East Bridgewater, Mass.) and sophomore Lily Gioiosa (Dartmouth, Mass.) at second base.

Sophomore Sidney Schwartz (Chelmsford, Mass.) is among those who will be behind the plate.

"She, I would say, has really developed into a strong catcher with great potential this offseason," said Vecchione.

Senior Emily Marcotte (North Dighton, Mass.) brings versatility to the team having played 27 games at catcher a year ago, 41 games as a corner outfielder in 2023, and 28 games at third base in 2022.

Junior catcher Emily Eastman (Cranston, R.I.) is one of the captains with Jolly and Schaefer.

Vecchione figures that the offense will be the BSU strong point.

"We have a lot of strong bats," she said. "We look pretty solid with the top nine."

BSU, which has been practicing indoors since Jan. 22, will play its home opener doubleheader on March 18 against UMass Dartmouth.