Salem State Softball Sweeps Owls

WESTFIELD, Mass. -- Salem State University got a pair of strong pitching performances from Sierra Ricci and Emily Carter, as the Vikings swept a MASCAC softball doubleheader from Westfield State by scores of 4-1 and 6-0 on Saturday.

The Vikings improve to 4-14 overall and 4-6 in the league, while Westfield slips to 8-18 and 2-8 in the MASCAC, dropping their 10^th straight game.

In the opener, Ricci (W, 2-4) limited the Owls to just two hits while striking out seven and walking just one.

Several fielding errors spoiled a strong pitching performance from Westfield's Emily Arredondo (L, 3-8), who tossed a complete game, scattering six hits and striking out four.  All four runs she allowed were unearned.  Arredondo also provided Westfield's lone run on the day with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning that tied the game at 1-1.  Westfield loaded the bases with two out, but was unable to plate a go-ahead run.

The Vikings tacked on two runs in the sixth, one on a throwing error, and another on Mikayla Porcaro's RBI single to take a 3-1 lead, and they added another unearned run in the seventh for the 4-1 final.  Porcaro and Sydney Chiasson each finished with two hits for the Vikings.

In the nightcap, Carter shut the Owls out on just three hits, a pair of bunt singles from Lindsay Cordopatri and an infield single from Brenna Welch.

Carter (1-5) struck out one and walked one in earning her first pitching win of the season.

For the Vikings, Peyton Jeffers had an RBI single in the first and an RBI double in the sixth.  Dominique Del Vecchio drove in a pair of runs, and Alexandria Sheehan had a pair of hits including an RBI triple, and scored with a steal of home in the seventh inning on the back end of a double steal.

Brenna Welch (L, 2-7) started and worked five innings for the Owls, allowing 11 hits and six walks.

The two teams will close out the 2021 season tomorrow with a pair of non-conference games at Salem State.