Softball Drops Two at Worcester State
Worcester, Mass. - Worcester State ran their winning-streak to six games with a pair of victories over Framingham State in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) softball action this afternoon at Rockwood Park. The Lancers won by scores of 4-3 and 8-1.
Worcester State junior Hannah Everson (Methuen, Mass.) fanned six in a complete-game effort in the opener and senior Erica Cordio (Leominster, Mass.) went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs in the nightcap.
The Lancers even their record at 13-13 and improve to 6-2 in the league standings, while the Rams slip to 11-17 overall and fall to 2-6 in the MASCAC.
Framingham State snapped a scoreless game in the fourth inning of the first contest when freshman Tiffany Agostini (Rehoboth, Mass.) hit an RBI single to centerfield plating junior Taylor Ezold (Westfield, Mass.).
WSU responded in the bottom of the fourth by putting up three runs to take the lead for good. Freshman Kaitlyn Storro (Leominster, Mass.) led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on a single by senior Jamie Jacobs (Billerica, Mass.). After Jacobs stole second putting two runners in scoring position, Storro and Jacobs scored the first two runs on a passed ball and wild pitch. Third-year Melisssa Beaudry (Worcester, Mass.) then crossed home for WSU's third run on an error in the Rams infield.
The Lancers pushed their lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth as Lamoureux drove in Cordio on a single through the right side.
Following consecutive base-knocks in the top of the sixth, sophomore Molly McKinnon (Framingham, Mass.) plated senior Alyssa Shea (Lakeville, Mass.) on a fielder's choice and McKinnon came around to score on a run producing double by senior Alysia Morrissette (Ware, Mass.) to cut the deficit to just one run.
Rams starting pitcher Yaya Faria (Acton, Mass.) preserved the 4-3 deficit by getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the sixth inning after she induced a ground-out.
In the top of the seventh, Framingham State was unable to even the score despite having a pair of runners on and two outs. Shea hit a grounder up the middle that hit Everson's leg and ricocheted right to junior third-baseman Alex Kerr (Franklin, Mass.) who fired to first and end the game.
Everson (8-5) picked up the win as she went seven innings allowing three earned runs on seven hits with one walk.
Faria (3-7) was charged with the loss as she went six innings and allowed four hits, four runs (one earned) with four walks and seven strikeouts.
Ezold, Shea, and Agostini had six of the Rams seven total hits with two base-knocks apiece. There were no multi-hitters for Worcester State in the first contest.
In the second game, Worcester State was able to grab the 1-0 lead in bottom of the first when Cordio crossed the plate on a heads-up running play following a dropped ball on a sacrifice bunt at first base.
WSU built upon their advantage in the bottom of the second as freshman Katie Roy (Worcester, Mass.) led off with a double off the center field fence. After senior Ashley Howe (Winchendon, Mass.) pushed Roy over on a sacrifice bunt, fourth-year Lauren Besozzi (Milford, Mass.) plated Roy on an RBI-single up the middle.
Besozzi later scored in the inning on a wild pitch and Cordio scored the final run of the rally on a sacrifice fly by Storro to push the Lancer margin to 4-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, Cordio hit a sac-fly to left field to score Besozzi to make the score 5-0 after four innings.
The Rams plated their only run of the nightcap in the top of the fifth inning as Shea hit an RBI single to score senior Sherren Doyle (Middleboro, Mass.) cutting the deficit to 5-1.
The Lancers were able to tack on three more runs to put the game away bottom of the frame as Lamoureux scored on a RBI single by Jacobs. Two batters later, Howe drove in Everson and Jacobs on a single up the middle.
Roy (2-1) gathered the victory as she pitched four and 1/3 innings and allowed five hits, one earned run, and walked two. Sophomore Kelley Winter (Attleboro, Mass.) worked one and 2/3 innings of relief for WSU surrendering one hit, walking one, and striking out a pair. Everson came on in the seventh inning and retired the side in order.
Morrissette (6-8) was saddled with the defeat in the finale as she pitched six innings, gave up 13 hits, allowed eight earned runs, a walk, and struck out two. Ezold collected the 100th hit of her career with her single in game two. Ezold joins Shea in 100 hit club as Shea reached the milestone last week.
Cordio, Lamoureux, and Besozzi each had a pair of hits for WSU in game two.
Both teams will play non-conference games on the road in their next match-ups. The Lancers will take on Western Connecticut State on Thursday at 5 p.m., while Framingham State will travel to Roger Williams for a 3:30 p.m. start.
Release courtesy of WSU Sports Information.