Softball Drops A Pair of MASCAC Games at Worcester State
Worcester, Mass. - The Worcester State softball team swept the Framingham State University Rams in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader this afternoon at Rockwood Park. The Lancers won the first game 7-3 and came from behind in the second game for a 9-3 victory.
With the pair of wins, the Lancers improve to 14-17-1 overall and 6-2 in the conference. The Rams fall to 9-22 overall and 2-6 in MASCAC.
Worcester State took game one as they scored seven runs on 11 hits and capitalized on two Framingham State errors.
The Lancers took the lead in the first inning when Courtney Salisbury (Cranston, RI) doubled to left center. Teammate Dakota Smith-Porter (Montague, Mass.) reached on a fielder's choice, plating Salisbury for the 1-0 lead. The Lancers plated another run on an RBI single from Sara Pelletier (Leominster, Mass.), and then the Rams' defense committed an error with two outs, allowing two more Lancer runs to score. The Lancers left the first inning with a 4-0 advantage.
Framingham State got on the board in the top of the fourth inning when junior Tiffanie Marsh (Tewksbury, Mass.) singled to right field and advanced to third on a fielding error. She came around to score when freshman Lauren Salisbury (Cranston, RI) reached on a fielder's choice. Sophomore Bridget McGrail (Worcester, Mass.) scored Salisbury on an RBI-double cutting the Lancer lead down to 5-2.
The Lancers added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, while the Rams tacked one on in the top of the seventh to reach the final score.
Offensively for the Lancers, C. Salisbury went 3-for-4 with two doubles. Sydney Despres (Sterling, Mass.) went 2-for-3 while teammate Smith-Porter went 2-for-4 with a double.
The Rams were led by Marsh who went 3-for-4 and Anna Dziok (Southampton, Mass.) who went 2-for-4. McGrail, Dziok, and L. Salisbury each pitched in an RBI apiece for the Rams.
Worcester State's Megan Rich (Chelmsford, Mass.) earned the win tossing all seven innings, allowing nine hits with four strikeouts. Senior Natasha Arseneau (Waltham, Mass.) took the loss for the Rams going five innings and surrendering 11 this.
The Rams opened game two scoring a run in the top of the first on a bases loaded single from Megan Downing (Hanson, Mass.).
The Lancers answered with a run in the bottom of the frame as they Lancers capitalized on a Ram error.
Framingham State took the lead back in the top of the second when Marsh hit a single through the right side driving in a pair of runs for a 3-1 lead.
The Lancers countered with one run in the bottom of the 3rd, and took the lead back in the bottom of the fourth as they scored three runs on four hits and one Ram error.
Worcester's Dakota Smith-Porter (Montague Mass.) added a homer to left center in the bottom of the sixth to plate three more runs.
For the Rams, Marsh went 3-for-4 with two RBI in game two.
Rich improved to 5-5 on the season as she earned the win in relief in game two. Marsh took the loss as she threw five innings, allowing eight hits and five runs.
The Lancers return to action taking against Nichols in a non-conference double header on Wednesday (Apr. 20) starting at 3:30 p.m. Framingham State also has a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday as they host to Roger Williams at 3 p.m. start time.
Portions of Release courtesy of WSU Sports Information