Westfield, Mass.— After winning the regular season and tournament crowns in 2023, Framingham State has been picked by the conference coaches to repeat as the 2024 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Champions. 

The Rams ended the MASCAC regular season with a 13-1 mark to claim the 2023 title. Returning for the team is reigning MASCAC Pitcher of the Year Ally Moran. She closed out the regular season leading the conference in several categories, including ERA (1.16) and wins (21), second in strikeouts (101), complete games (16), shutouts (4) and innings pitched (138.2). During last year’s conference tournament, she eclipsed the 21 win mark which gave her the school record and the eighth most wins in DIII.

Sitting in second is Worcester State with 41 points. The Lancers had a 9-5 record at the end of conference play last season. Back in the circle is All-Conference honoree Emily Bartlett who registered six wins, including two shutouts, 145 strikeouts (9.76 per game), a 3.70 ERA with a .214 batting average against. 

Bridgewater State is third with 40 points. For the Bears, All-Conference outfielder Janet Jolly is back after helping the Bears to a 9-2 record last season. During that time, Jolly started all 44 games for the Bears in centerfield and batted .328 (42-128) with a home run, six doubles, four triples, five walks, eight stolen bases, 21 runs scored and 23 RBI to go along with a .461 slugging percentage and a .368 on bas percentage. She also recorded six outfield assists.

 

Coming in fourth with 35 points is Westfield State. The Owls tied for second at 9-2 in 2023 conference play. All-Conference award winner Jordyn Lummus led the team with a .387 batting average, 48 hits, and 30 runs scored. She hit four doubles, a triple and a two home runs while driving in 14 runs. She ranked eighth in the conference in batting average. She tied the school’s single season record for games played by playing in all 41 of the Owls’ contests this season.

 

Massachusetts Maritime lands in fifth with 21 points. The Buccaneers saw their first appearance in the MASCAC Tournament last season on the back of MASCAC Player and Rookie of the Year Ab’c’de Patane who during the 2023 regular season led the MASCAC in batting average (.531), on-base percentage (.566), slugging percentage (.920), hits (60), doubles (17), home runs (7) and RBI (50). She ended the year third in the DIII in batting average (.531), fourth in the country in slugging percentage (.920) and eighth in the country in on-base percentage (.566).

 

Landing in sixth is Fitchburg State with 20 points. The Falcons were 7-7 last season. Molly Grass finished with a .333 batting average, 16 doubles, three triples two home runs, 26 RBI and 27 runs scored with a .567 slugging percentage and .403 on-base percentage last season.

 

Rounding out the 2024 poll in seventh and eighth are Salem State and MCLA with 16 and seven points, respectively. For the Vikings, Payton Jeffers batted .291 last season, playing in 31 games. She collected 25 hits and 10 RBI while finishing seventh in the MASCAC with 11. For the Trailblazers, Madison Teta is back on the field after batting .324 with four doubles, two triples, five home runs, 23 RBI, 35 runs scored, a .543 slugging percentage and .419 on-base percentage. 

 

The MASCAC softball squads begin their 2024 season with play over spring break with conference action starting the weekend of March 29-30.