MCLA falls to first place Vikings
Westfield, MA- The Trailblazers played their second conference game in two days when Salem State paid a visit. The Trailblazers couldn't put together a win as Salem took both games; 5-0, 5-2. With the win the Vikings of Salem State improve to 16-8, 7-1 and sit in first place of the MASCAC. The Trailblazers now fall to 10-16, 4-4.
Salem scored their first of five runs in the second inning. Christina Cipriani led off the inning with a single to right, moved to second on a base hit bunt by Rebecca Krigman. Cipriani and Krigman were then scarified by Michelle Flower. Cipriani scored on a sacrifice fly by Cara Crowley. Krigman would move to third on the play but MCLA got out of the inning allowing only one run.
In the second inning, Salem would again score on a freak play. Darien Sullivan and Michaela DiNicola would collide trying to catch a fly ball to shallow right by Lauren Garchinsky. Garchinsky would use her speed and make it around the bases.
Two MCLA errors in the fourth inning allowed Salem to score two more runs. Salem would score their last run of the game in the fifth when Garchinsky led off with a base hit, moved to second on a ground out, advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored on a Cipriani double.
No MCLA runners touched second base until the seventh inning. With one out, MCLA earned back to back walks. Sam Boyle would hit a ground ball to the short stop that choose to go to third on the play and recorded two outs. The next batter up for the Trailblazers would pop to short and end the game.
Amanda Mezcywor took the loss in the circle while Alyssa Bryan would earn her 10th win of the season.
MCLA would start off the bottom half of the first inning of the second game looking to score. Leadoff hitter DiNicola popped out, Kendra Hobbs earned a walk and Mezcywor singled. With runners on first and second Angelica Perfido would hit a ground ball to the short stop, that again choose to go to third. The next batter up would fly out to right and end the Trailblazers first threat of the second game.
Jenn Toussaint the first batter of the second inning homered to right center. The Vikings went up 1-0. Salem went on to score a run in the third and fourth inning.
With the Vikings up 3-0, the Trailblazers scored their first run in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs and runners on first and second, Kendra Hobbs hit a ball to center field. Flower made a nice diving catch but the ball would fall out of her glove. Quackenbush would score on the play.
The Trailblazers held the Vikings scoreless in the fifth and would pull within one when Tanelle Ciempa reached on a fielder's choice, stole second base and came around to score on a double by Megan Boyer.
The Trailblazers couldn't keep themselves within one run as they gave up two runs in the top of the sixth and then couldn't score the rest of the way.
Sarra Bergeron earned the win and Bryan earned the save. Quackenbush would be tagged with the loss.
MCLA will take tomorrow off and play again on Wednesday when they travel to Amherst College. Salem will play on Thursday when UMASS- Dartmouth takes a trip to Alumni Field.