Framingham State Ends Salem State's Season

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- Second seed Framingham State earned an 11-5 victory over fifth seed Salem State in an elimination game of the MASCAC Softball Tournament on Saturday at Maple Street Field. The Rams (26-14) move on to face top seed Westfield State while the Vikings end their season 18-20.  

How It Happened:

Framingham State's Audrey Gauthier threw 6.2 innings in relief of starter Sydney Bednarz, who lasted just 0.1 innings. Gauthier allowed three runs -- two earned -- on seven hits with six strikeouts and four walks to improve to 16-6. Jocelyn Pepe paced the Framingham State offense with three hits, four runs and four RBI. Eliza Carignan was 3-for-3 with a walk and two RBI. 

Salem State starter Alanis Toledano (4-5) allowed three first inning runs on a hit and three walks. Gracie Martineau finished the game on the mound, going 5.2 innings pitched, while giving up eight runs -- six earned -- on 13 hits with two walks and a strikeout. Samantha Gaona-Sullivan was 3-for-5 for the Vikings with two runs and an RBI while Tara Perryman had three hits in four at-bats with a pair of RBI.

• Taylor McDermott ripped an RBI double to right, scoring the fist run of the game. Perryman followed with a base hit to center as Salem State jumped on top 2-0 in the first.
• Framingham State responded with a three-run first as Pepe knocked in two runs with a base hit to center before Abigail Behrikis added a run-scoring single.
• A passed ball and RBI single by Pepe gave the Rams a 5-2 advantage in the second.
• Back-to-back singles by Perryman and Eisnor cut the lead to 5-4 in the fourth.
• However, a two-run single by Carignan doubled the Framingham State lead to 8-4 in the bottom of the inning.
• A fielder's choice by Gaona-Sullivan drew Salem State to within 8-5 in the fifth, but the Rams answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning on a single by Etemad-Gilbertson and two-run double by Makayla Rooney.