Softball Advances to the MASCAC Winners’ Bracket Finals in Walk-Off Fashion

BRIDGEWATER, Mass.- Emily Marcotte‘s (North Dighton, Mass.) two-run walk-off single with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted #2 seed Bridgewater State University to a dramatic 3-2 win over #3 Worcester State University in the quarterfinals of the Massachusetts Softball Tournament State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) 2023 on Friday afternoon at Alumni Park.

With the win, Bridgewater advances to the winners’ bracket finals as the Bears (14-26-1) face top seed Framingham State University tomorrow morning at 10:00 am. Worcester moves into the losers bracket with a setback. The Lancers (25-17) will face #4 Westfield State University tomorrow afternoon at 12:30pm in an elimination game. The rest of the tournament will take place at Maple Street Field in Framingham.

The Lancers struck first in this one with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Back-to-back singles by Amanda Adams (Dudley, Mass.) and Jacqui Schwalm (Billerica, Mass.) followed by a sacrifice bunt putting the runners in second and third with one out. Abigail Koziol (Lunenburg, Mass.) hit an error, but was credited with an RBI, as Adamuska ran home and Schwalm cruised to third. Gorgeous Gasbarro (Leominster, Mass.) then brought Schwalm home with a sacrificial fly.

The Bears cut the deficit to 2-1 late in the third inning. Alice Habib (Haverhill, Mass.) selected to take the lead from the frame and scored from the first with two RBI goals into the gap in left midfield with Molly Thibaudeau (Lincoln, RI).

The score remains that way until the bottom of seventh. Olivia Silva (Somerset, Mass.) was running and Thibaudeau threw out to put the runners first and second by one pitch. After a sacrificial bunt advanced the runners, Marcotte ripped a 2-2 shot to center to win the game.

Madelyn Klingel (Windsor, Conn.) went the distance in circles for the Bears to take their sixth win of the season. Klingel (6-12) surrendered by just two hits (one earned) on five no-walks and three hits.

Emily Bartlett (Lowell, Mass.) suffered a loss as a starter Sarah Gosseline (Charlton, Mass.). Barlett gave up two hits on two hits for 4 2/3 innings with three walks and six hits. He also hit the batter. Gosselin allowed a two-hit run over two innings plus no walks and strikes.

Thibaudeau reached safely three times in the afternoon as he doubled, walked, and was hit on three trips to the plate.