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Westfield, MA --- Salem State freshman Molly McLean (Arlington, MA) went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and classmate Rachel Cyr (Amesbury, MA) hurled seven strong innings to help pace the fourth-seeded Vikings to a 8-2 victory over #3 Bridgewater State in the first elimination game of the MASCAC Softball Tournament at Rockwood Park.

Salem State (21-16) moves to the second elimination game at 4 PM while the Bears end their campaign at 20-15. SSU takes on the winner of top-seeded

After the Vikings took the 1-0 lead on a fielding error by the shortstop in the top of the second, McLean doubled in classmate Marisa Sanchez (Framingham, MA) in the very next inning and then junior Rebecca Krigman (Malden, MA) put Salem State ahead by three on an RBI ground out.

McLean helped ballooned SSU margin to 6-0 by highlighting the top of the fourth with a two-bagger that scored a duo of runs.

Bridgewater State broke up the no-hit bid in the bottom of the fourth by pushing across a pair of tallies.

Sophomore Breanna Schaffer (Plainville, MA) scored on an infield miscue by the shortstop and then classmate Kelly McCarthy (Burlington, MA) tacked on the second run with an RBI single to centerfield.

With the 6-2 score on the board in left centerfield, Cyr dug deep and she hurled two perfect frames to keep the Bears scoreless.

The Vikings used the change in momentum to put the game away with two runs in the top of the seventh. Freshman Kristina Gallagher (Whittier, MA) scampered home on a wild pitch and classmate Desiree Moreno (Ashburnham, MA) rapped out a run scoring solo knock up the middle.

Cyr permitted a lead-off double to sophomore Jackie Welch (Hubbardston, MA) to start off the last of the seventh, but she tossed a scoreless frame to help Salem Sate stave off elimination. Cyr (5-4) allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits to go with one walk and she did not strike out a batter.

Sophomore Kathleen Bailey (Bayport, NY) absorbed the loss for Bridgewater State. Baily (4-5) went the first 2 1/3 stanzas yielding three runs (two earned) on two hits in addition to one free pass and a strikeout.

The Vikings doubled up their opponents, 8-4, on base-knocks as sophomore Jess Raymond (Peabody, MA) had two singles and McLean added a pair of doubles. Sanchez crossed the plate twice.

Bridgewater Stated did not have any multi-hitters.