BSU Softball Update
BRIDGEWATER, MA- The Bridgewater State Bears played two series in the last two weekends, first against the Salem State Vikings followed by the Westfield State Owls.
After starting the season 2-1-1 against Worcester State, since then the girls have lost six straight games against Framingham State.
The Bears were supposed to play the Eastern Nazarene for their first weekend, but Nazarene had to go into quarantine due to COVID. The Bears were also supposed to play the MCLA Trailblazers, but their whole program was shut down due to a COVID outbreak on campus.
April 15 @ Salem State:
In game one, the BSU Bears scored six runs in the second inning and four runs in the fourth inning. Outfielders Janet Jolly (Freshman) and Emma Healy (Junior) led the team in runs scored with two. Junior starting pitcher and captain Kelley Reichert dominated with a complete game (5 innings, 2 strikeouts, 3 hits and no earned runs) earning the win. The Bears won Game 1 of the Doubleheader, 10-0.
In game two, Reichert started again and dominated with another complete game. She stuck out 5 batters while allowing 4 hits and 2 walks. In the fifth inning, sophomore second baseman Kerri McLaughlin scored the first run of the game. There were two other runs scored by Janet Jolly and freshman Molly Thibideau in the same inning. Salem State tried to rally in the sixth and seventh innings but the BSU defense stopped them to keep the shutout. BSU would win Game two by the score of 3-0.
In between the games I got to talk to team captains Kelly Reichert and senior outfielder Alexandra Rupercht about how the team did this season and what their expectations are going forward.
Rupercht said this about the team, “This season I think we have probably the most talent on the team this year, and it took us a little bit to get started with coming and working together and with it now finally coming along with the two wins against Salem State during weekend.”
About the Bears slow start, Reichert said, “I think that those losses don’t define us, but with losses comes a lot of learning opportunities and I think that in the next couple weeks, we are going to prove to a lot of people how good we are.”
Kelley Reichert won the MASCAC softball player of the week award for her performance against Salem State. Reichert responded by, “It is an accomplishment to me, it’s awesome, it’s exciting. It was definitely something that boosted my confidence, I think I needed that a little bit, I think I was off to a slow start as well with the team, but I think this past week, like I said it all came together, and we all worked together to finally beat Salem.”
Series against Westfield State:
April 23 @ Westfield:
In game one, Junior Laura Hatch started on the mound for the Bears. In the 1st inning, Westfield State senior outfielder Sarah Menuier hit a one-run home run for the first run of the game. In the 2nd inning, sophomore designated hitter Madison Dana got a run when infielder Janet Jolly reached first on an error when she dropped a bunt and then Westfield first baseman Alexandra Czarkosky missed a throw from senior pitcher Emily Arredondo. Madison Dana tied the game for the Bears, and the score was 1-1 at the end of the second inning. In the 4th inning, Kerri McLaughin helped the Bears take the lead by hitting a one-run home run. Then Juniors Kim Scanlon (third base) and Megan Sharon (shortstop); scored 2 more runs in the 4th to make it 4-1 Bears at the end of the inning. Westfield State had two runs in the sixth and then tied the game at 4 when Arredondo hit a single up the middle and Senior infielder Jordyn Carpenter scored in the bottom of the 7th inning. The game went into extra innings until the 9th when Madison Dana singled to center field and freshman first baseman Ava Novakoski scored the winning run. Reichert then retired all the batters in the bottom of the ninth to close it out for the Bears. The Bears won against Westfield, 5-4 in nine innings.
In game two, Kelley Reichert started on the mound for the Bears. In the second inning, Westfield’s sophomore shortstop Alyssa Clark scored the first run of the game when senior designated hitter Madison Philbrook hit an RBI double. The Bears tied the game when catcher Madison Dana doubled and right fielder Emma Healy scored in the third. Dana the scored after Ruprecht hit a RBI double. In the fourth inning, Reichert scored when Janet Jolly hit a RBI double. The Bears then closed out the game with five unearned runs in the 5th inning. BSU won game 2 by the score of 9-1 in five innings. Kelley Reichert had her fourth straight great outing as she struck out 6 batters, while only allowing three hits, one earned run, and no walks in the game.
April 24 Home vs. Westfield State
In game one, Laura Hatch was on the mound for the Bears. In the first inning, Megan Sharon scored the first run of the game off a single from senior catcher Madison Synan. In the second inning, Westfield tied the game when Alyssa Clark scored a run in the second inning. The Bears took the lead when Emma Healy scored a run off a sacrifice fly from Madison Synan. With one out in the fourth inning, Hatch was relieved by Reichert again. Then in the next two innings, the Bears scored 2 runs in each inning to make the game 6-1 at the end of the 5th. Reichert and the BSU defense would hold on to the lead as they did not allow another run for the rest of the game. The final score was the Bears 6-1 in 7 innings. Kelley Reichert was credited with the win, as this makes 5 straight wins for Reichert in as many appearances.
In game two, Kelley Reichert took the mound for the Bears. In the first inning, the Bears scored first when Rupercht hit a three-run home run in which both Dana and Synan scored. In the second inning, the Bears scored 5 runs including a Synan three RBI double. In the third inning, the Bears shortstop Megan Sharon scored an unearned run when freshman right fielder Molly Thibaudeau reached first on an error by Westfield State. In the fourth inning, Westfield’s junior first baseman Farrah Adam scored off a single by freshman third baseman Skylar Dutra. The Bears then went off in the fourth by scoring four runs in the inning. Westfield State scored one more run before the game ended in the 5th inning. The final score was the Bears winning 14-2 in the games final set.
The Bears are set to play another series against Westfield State on April 30th and April 1st. Then the Bears will face off against Fitchburg State for the final series of the regular season. If BSU is one of the top two teams in the MASCAC, they will be qualified for the conference championship.
