Softball Suffers Two Tough-Luck Losses in Season Finale

SALEM, Mass. – The MCLA Softball team wrapped up their 2024 season this afternoon, dropping two games to MASCAC foe Salem State. Hailey Peabody picked up her MASCAC-leading 23rd stolen base while allowing only two earned runs in the Trailblazers' extra-inning loss in game #1. The second game of the day was just as close, with MCLA leaving the game-tying run at third base in the top of the seventh.

THE BASICS:

• Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024
• Game #1: MCLA 2, Salem State 3 (eight innings)
• Game #2: MCLA 3, Salem State 4
• Records: MCLA Trailblazers 11-25 (MASCAC 2-12) | Salem State Vikings 13-24 (MASCAC 7-7)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Game #1
  • MCLA was the first team on the scoreboard in the afternoon's first game, scoring tallies in the third and fourth innings to take a 2-0 lead into the later innings.
  • Cinderella Khoury led off the third inning by working a walk before advancing to third on singles from Hailey Peabody and Maddy Teta. Ella Staffier then brought Khoury home with a sacrifice fly to center field.
  • In the fourth inning, the Trailblazers doubled their lead when Madyson Torres singled to center field, scoring Kristie Zator.
  • Salem State mounted a late rally to force extra innings, scoring two-out runs in both the sixth and seventh innings on self-inflicted wounds by MCLA. The run in the sixth inning came on a bases-loaded walk, and the game-tying run was gifted via a seventh-inning passed ball. The Vikings won in a walk-off faction when a bunt single by Payton Jeffers scored Isabelle Besser.
  • Despite the loss, Peabody's performance was noteworthy. She struck out six while allowing only two earned runs, evening her record at 3-3. Emily Carter of Salem State also had a strong showing, going the distance and scattering 10 hits over eight innings to improve to 5-9.
• Game #2
  • The Vikings scored a pair of runs in the first inning, taking advantage of two hits and a walk to score the first and a sac fly to plate the second.
  • The Trailblazers responded by cutting the lead in half in the top of the third inning. Teta was hit by a pitch with one out and advanced to second on a passed ball. After Justina Pardi walked, Maggie Closinski singled through the left side to bring Teta home.
  • Salem State got the run back in the bottom of the frame and added another in the bottom of the sixth.
  • In the top of the seventh MCLA mounted a late rally. Staffier led off with her team-leading 10^th double before trading places with Justina Pardi. Two batters later, Zator brought Pardi home with a single through the left side of the infield.
  • Martineau picked up the win, improving her record to 4-8, while Sarah Williams suffered the tough-luck loss, finishing the season with a record of 5-13.

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