Softball Draws Split With NCAA Participant Western Connecticut

Danbury, CT --- Worcester State and Western Connecticut split a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday afternoon at Westside Field.

Junior Hannah Everson (Methuen, MA) tossed a three-hitter and sophomore Carolyn Hassett (Charlton, MA) had a big hit in a 4-1 triumph in the opener before the Lancers fell, 8-2 in the nightcap.

The Blue and Gold (14-14) pushed across the first run of the contest with two outs. After Everson reached on a single and moved over on a bunt, she would score on an RBI single by senior Jaime Jacobs (Billerica, MA).

Western Connecticut (19-11), who participated in the NCAA Division III New York Regional last season, tied the game 1-1 an unearned run on a misplayed ball by the third baseman after sophomore Kylee Ruther (Stamford, CT) attempted to swipe third.

Both pitchers would match zeros over the next four frames - with the Colonials stranding four in scoring position and the Lancers leaving three on base during that stretch.

Worcester State would finally snap the tie in the top of the seventh by loading the bases to start the uprising. That would set the table for Hassett, who delivered an RBI single before junior Aimee Lamoureux (W. Brookfield, MA) knocked in two more for the 4-1 advantage.  

Everson tossed a perfect bottom of the seventh to help up her record to 7-5. She fanned five and walked three batters.

Western Connecticut senior Magen Dargon (Trumbull, CT) shouldered the setback for the hosts. Dargon (13-5) struck out seven while allowing four earned runs on nine hits to go with one walk.

Hassett was 3-for-4 and Jacobs was 2-for-3 for the Lancers. Fourth-year Jackie Zilnicki (Riverhead, NY) had two of her squads three base-knocks with a double and a single.

In the second contest, the Lancers grabbed the 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first on an RBI double by freshman Katie Roy (Worcester, MA/Burncoat).

The Colonials promptly responded in the bottom of the frame on a plated triple by Zilnicki and took the 3-1 edge on a two-run blast by senior Danielle Basciano (Holmes, NY) for her fourth of the season in the bottom of the third.

Worcester State would get one back in the top of the fourth on an RBI single by Jacobs, but the hosts got to Roy in the bottom of the fifth when they broke the game open in a five-run frame. Zilnicki, Basciano, freshman Amanda Rizzo (North Haven, CT) and freshman Danielle Locke (Staten Island, NY) all highlighted the inning with run producing base-knocks.

After yielding the run to the visitors in the fourth, sophomore Stephanie Moss (Brookfield, CT) retired her last nine batters for three perfect innings. Moss (5-6) allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits to go with three punchouts. She did not walk a batter.

Roy dropped to 2-2 with the setback as she allowed eight earned runs on 11 hits to go with two strikeouts and one walk.

There were no multi-hitters for the Blue and Gold as Lamoureux and Roy scored the only runs for the visitors. Rizzo, Zilnicki, Basciano and freshman Erin Biskup (Poughkeepsie, NY) all had two safties each for the hosts.

Both squads will play conference opponents on the weekend. Worcester State hosts first-place Bridgewater State in a key MASCAC matchup at noon while Western Connecticut entertains UMass Dartmouth at 1 PM.