By Adam Levine
Sports Editor
The Framingham State Rams clinched the MASCAC Regular Season Title with a sweep of the Westfield State Owls in their doubleheader April 28, winning their third title over the past six seasons.
The Rams won 14 of their last 15 games, with their last loss coming against Johnson and Wales April 20.
With just two games left of the regular season, the Rams are undefeated against MASCAC opponents.
Their first-place finish is an improvement from their fourth-place regular season finish last season.
Framignahm’s second baseman, Brooke Grassia, said, “The main improvement this team has made from last year is trusting the process. Up and down the lineup, everyone on the team believes in each other, which is allowing us to move on with such good results.”
Head Coach Larry Miller said, “Our team has done an incredible job of competing in every game - no matter the score.
“I think this group is focused on the right things, having fun, and truly enjoying the journey,” he added.
Six Rams earned spots on MASCAC weekly reports throughout the season, including shortstop Camille Desrochers’ back-to-back Player of the Week honors to end the season and pitcher Ally Moran’s four Pitcher of the Week honors.
Miller said, “I think it’s great for our athletes to be recognized, and it is certainly deserved, but I think what makes us special is everyone in our lineup and all of our pitchers have contributed hugely in different spots of the season to put us in the place we are.”
Desrochers, who is a grad student, said, “Honestly, my only goal is to win a MASCAC championship. This is it for me, so the only way I am looking to go out is to end with one last championship.”
Moran leads one of the best pitching rotations in the MASCAC, supported by freshman pitchers Rylynn Witek and Olyvia Mendonca.
She said, “The success comes from the defense I have behind me.
“Like I said before and will continue to say, without my teammates making plays and scoring runs, there really wouldn’t be much success,” Moran added.
Moran set a new Framingham record for single-season wins (18).
The Rams’ first baseman, Kelsey McGuill, ranks first in the MASCAC in putouts with 246, rounding out the team’s defensive success.
McGuill said, “Our pitchers are producing weak ground balls to enable our infielders to make good throws to first base. Those throws are what allow me to do what I do, and I couldn’t do that without them.”
Framingham’s outfielder, Gwendolyn Carpenter, earned MASCAC Player of the Week April 17, and leads the conference in home runs (six).
Her six home runs this season set the new single-season home run record for Framingham softball.
Carpenter said, “While the individual accolades are nice, they mean nothing in the end. Our goal is to win another MASCAC championship and be the last team standing at the end of it all.”
Grassia earned a spot on the MASCAC Weekly Honor Roll four times this season. She ranks first in the conference in hits and fifth in fielding assists, showing the two-way abilities she adds to the Rams.
Grassia said, “When it comes to offense, the goal is to get on base and trust my teammates to do the rest for me.
“Like I said before, defense is all about the girls in front of you and behind you. I always have someone picking me up if I need it and always have someone cheering me on when the tough plays work out,” she added.
Miller said, “As far as the season ending goes, I don’t think about it - this year has been a blast.
“I’m surrounded by a great group of student-athletes who make it fun to come to practice every day, and we are just going to ride this postseason wave as long as it takes us,” he added.
Framingham ends the season traveling to Fitchburg State for a MASCAC doubleheader May 6.