Softball Bounced From MASCAC Tournament In Extra Innings By Salem State

Worcester, MA --- Salem State freshman Jen Crovo (Melrose, MA) and classmate Desiree Moreno (Ashburnham, MA) both recorded two hits each as they both helped power the fourth-seeded Vikings to a 4-2 triumph over top-seeded Worcester State in the final game of the MASCAC Tournament semifinals.

Salem State (22-16) moves ahead to the MASCAC title game where they take on second-seeded MCLA at 11 AM. Should the Vikings defeat the Trailblazers, they will play a winner take all contest 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first.

The Lancers end their season at 22-15 after making their sixth consecutive appearance in the MASCAC Softball Tournament.

Worcester State took over the early 1-0 edge in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Hayley Terry (N. Dighton, MA) to help score junior Sara Pelletier (Leominster, MA), who led off the contest with a single and she moved to second on a fielding error by the centerfielder.

Salem State answered in the top of the second as the visitors plated a pair of scores. Taking advantage of a dropped pop-up by the catcher, Crovo drove in freshman Courtney Kilgore (Malden, MA) and Moreno on a two-run single to the gap in left center.

With the 2-1 margin in favor of SSU, freshman Megan Black (Winchendon, MA) and junior Meghan Rich (Chelmsford, MA) combined for two scoreless stanzas until the Lancers knotted up the game in the fifth when sophomore Courtney Salisbury (Cranston, RI) rapped out a two-out RBI single to score senior Alyssa Hill (Erving, MA).

In extra innings to start off the eighth, junior Rebecca Krigman (Malden, MA) traded places with senior Jen Touissaint (Reading, MA) for the go-ahead tally before Moreno tacked on some insurance with a long fly ball to score an unearned tally.

The Lancers threatened in the last of the eighth, the hosts had the bases juiced and just one out on the scoreboard, but Black spun an ending double play to help lift her squad to the conference tournament championship game.

Just one day removed from being taken out of the game early for a no decision against Worcester State in the first game of the quarterfinals, Black put the Vikings on her back by allowing two earned runs over eight innings of work while she scattered eight hits and permitted two walks.

Rich (15-3) absorbed the loss as she went eight innings surrendering four runs (three earned) on nine hits to go with two strikeouts without a free pass.

The SSU offense outhit their counterparts, 9-8, as the repeat hitters for the Lancers were Pelletier (2-for-4), Salisbury (2-for-3) and Couto (2-for-4).

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