Softball Blanks Salem State, 8-0, In MASCAC Tournament Opener
Worcester, MA --- Sophomore Alex Kerr went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and senior Michaella Mahoney tossed her sixth shutout of the season as the helped propel second-seeded Worcester State to an 8-0 triumph over #3 Salem State in five innings this evening in the first round of the 2011 MASCAC Softball Tournament.
The Lancers, winners of their last 10 games, move on to play #4 Bridgewater State at 1 PM in the winner's bracket semifinal game on Saturday at Westfield State. Vikings (23-18) will play the top-seeded Owls at 11 AM in the loser's bracket elimination contest. The Bears upset Westfield State earlier this afternoon, 7-2, on the road.
WSU set their program record for wins this evening with a 26-9 record.
Worcester State started off the game with the 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when junior Ashley Howe (Pepperell, MA) scored on fielding error in the outfield. Howe originally reached on a walk, moved into scoring position on a ground-out and then she scampered home on the miscue.
After freshman Lauren DeCredico (Tewksbury, MA) let up the first run of the game, she would toss three scoreless innings – stranding two Lancers in scoring position – before running into trouble in the top of the fifth.
Junior Erica Cordio (Leominster, MA) hammered a lead-off triple to start off the frame before junior Katelynn Fanning (East Boston, MA) was summoned into the contest in an attempt to finish off the inning. Howe then drove in Cordio before sophomore Aimee Lamoureux (E. Brookfield, MA) and Mahoney drew walks to load the bases.
Kerr followed with a big two-run base knock to make the score 4-0. Then four batters later, Cordio ended the game to force the eight-run rule as she hit a fly ball to right-center that the centerfielder dropped and allowed three runs to cross home plate.
Mahoney (14-2) was sensational as she yielded just two hits in five innings of work while she fanned four and allowed one free pass on the evening. Junior Michelle Grifoni (Peabody, MA) broke up the no-hit bid in the top of the fourth with a two-out infield single.
The shutout was the 15th time she has blanked an opponent in her three-years at WSU.
DeCredico (11-5) was handed the setback in the circle as she went the four-plus innings allowing two runs on three hits to go along with one strikeout. DeCrdico did not issue any free passes.
Howe finished with two runs scored for WSU as junior Lauren Besozzi (Milford, MA) reached base three times with a pair of singles and she also reached on a fielders choice.
The Blue and Gold outhit Salem State 6-2 while sophomore Lauren Garchinsky (Saugus, MA) had the other hit for the visitors in the fifth inning.