SHREWSBURY — In a back-and-forth Division 1 state quarterfinal matchup, No. 5 Shrewsbury held off No. 4 Franklin for a 6-5 victory Saturday, earning a spot in the MIAA Division 1 Final Four.
The Colonials collected six runs on nine hits and used a balanced offensive attack to survive a late Franklin rally. Shrewsbury jumped out early with three runs in the first two innings before adding insurance runs throughout the game.
Junior third baseman Emma Ellis led the offense, going 3-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored, and four RBIs. Ellis delivered the biggest hit of the afternoon with her two-run blast and finished with five total bases.
Lyla Rose contributed a strong all-around performance, finishing 1-for-4 with two runs scored while also entering the circle in relief. Julia Azzarone went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Maddie Bentley added a hit, a run scored, and an RBI. Alex Taupier chipped in with a double and an RBI.
In the circle, Jackie Guidotti earned the win after pitching 4.1 innings, allowing five hits and five runs while striking out three. Rose closed the door in relief, tossing the final 2.2 innings without allowing a run while striking out three to secure the victory.
Franklin battled throughout the contest and nearly completed a comeback after scoring two runs in the fifth inning and adding three more in the sixth.
Addi Weiss paced the Panthers offensively, finishing 3-for-3 with a triple, a double, a run scored, and an RBI. Ciara O’Brien went 1-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, and a run scored, while Ava Florest added a pair of hits and an RBI. Amelia Rakitin contributed a triple, a run scored, and an RBI in the loss.
Sophia Scaramone started for Franklin and pitched four innings, allowing eight hits and five runs. O’Brien worked the final two innings in relief, surrendering one run on one hit while striking out five.
Franklin finished with five runs on eight hits, but Shrewsbury’s timely hitting and late relief pitching proved to be the difference as the Colonials advanced to the state semifinals.
Shrewsbury will now face top-seeded Taunton in the Division 1 Final Four on Tuesday at UMass Dartmouth with a berth in the state championship game on the line.
