Owls Explode For 33 Hits In Doubleheader Sweep Over Salem

SALEM, MASS. – Senior Bri Tortora (Worcester, Mass.) wrapped out five hits on the day, as the Westfield State University softball team swept a MASCAC doubleheader from Salem State University on Saturday afternoon. 

Game 1

Caitlin Hughes (Hanson, Mass.) provided the first run of the contest for Westfield State with a sacrifice fly in the first inning.

An error and singles by Mikayla Porcaro (Amesbury, Mass.) and Del Vecchio gave Salem State a 3-2 lead in the third.

The Owls regained the lead as Kaitlynn Prophet (Bellingham, Mass.) and back-to-back sacrifice flies by Maddie Keigwin (Sutton, Mass.) and Karly Mastello (Russell, Mass.) led to a three-run fourth for the Owls.

Four consecutive singles by Ivy Bonoldi (Medfield, Mass.), Porcaro, Del Vecchio and Luciana Mastromatteo (Peabody, Mass.) plated three runs in the fourth putting Salem State back on top 6-5.

However, Hughes added a two-run double in the sixth. An error and bases loaded walk to Prophet scored two more runs as the Westfield State advantage extended to 9-6.

Arredondo earned the victory, allowing 16 hits and five runs with a walk and pair of strikeouts in seven innings. Del Vecchio was tagged with the loss after going six innings and giving up five runs on six hits  with 11 walks. 

Prophet finished 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI for the Owls. Salem State's Porcaro, Del Vecchio and Mastromatteo all collected three hits in four trips to the plate for the Vikings.

Game 2

Westfield State pulled ahead in the second inning on back-to-back RBI singles by Sarah Meunier (Deerfield, Mass.) and Bri Tortora (Worcester, Mass.). Keigwin followed with an RBI double and the Owls led 3-0.

Salem State took back a run with a double steal by Bonoldi and Sydney Chiasson (Hudson, Mass.) in the bottom of the second.

An RBI groundout by Prophet and a run-scoring double by Hughes pushed the lead to 5-1 in the fourth.

Bonoldi cut into the lead with a run-producing double to left in the sixth. A Del Vecchio groundout plated Porcacro, who had tripled for another run for the Vikings in the seventh, but starter Emily Woodworth (Marlborough, Mass.) closed the deal to earn the victory.

Woodworth allowed 10 hits and three runs with a walk in a complete game effort. Hogan was charged with the loss after giving up two runs on 11 hits with a walk and strikeout.

Keigwin, Hughes, Mastello and Jordyn Carpenter (Mashpee, Mass.) all collected three hits for Westfield State. Chiasson went 3-for-3 with a run scored for Salem State.    

(Story courtesy of Joe Bietz, Salem State Sports Information)