Softball Falls to Amherst, The College of Wooster to Open Season

Fort Myers, FL --- The Worcester State softball team lost twice this morning as they were defeated 3-2 by Amherst before dropping a 7-6 decision to The College of Wooster.

Senior Erica Cordio (Leominster, MA) had two hits in the opener while freshman Katie Roy (Worcester, MA/Burncoat) recorded two base-knocks in the second contest.

In the first game, Cordio started off the bottom of the first with a walk. After moving into scoring position on a bunt, she came around to score on an errant throw by the catcher when she stole third.

Amherst would knot the score in the top of the fifth on an RBI single by freshman Donna Leet (Seattle, WA). She would drive in junior Theresa Kelly (Los Angeles, CA), who led off the frame reaching on a miscue in the infield.

Cordio helped the Lancers respond in the bottom of the fifth when she doubled and came around to score on a throwing error by the shortstop.

The Lady Jeff's would promptly respond and tied the score 2-2 on the first collegiate homer by Idalia Freidson (Turnbull, CT) in the top of the sixth.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Blue and Gold put runners on second and third with just one out, but Kelly buckled down and fanned the next two batters to end the threat.

That would set the stage for Amherst to push across the go-ahead run to make the score 3-2 in the top of the seventh. With two outs, Leet doubled and moved to third on a single by third-year Reilly Horan (Darien, CT). In the next at-bat, the Lady Jeff's took advantage of a misplayed ball by the shortstop as Leet would score the game-winning run.

Kelly (1-0) tossed a perfect seventh to help Amherst win the contest. Kelly, who notched her 26th complete game, allowed two unearned runs, four hits as she struck out 13 and walked three.

Junior Hannah Everson (Methuen, MA) absorbed the defeat. Everson (0-1) scattered nine hits, gave up three runs (one earned), registered seven punchouts and she issued one free pass.

In the first game of the season for both squads, Amherst would strand nine (four in scoring position) and finish with nine base-knocks while the Lancers left six on base (three in scoring position) and finished with four hits.

Freidson was 3-for-4 for the Lady Jeff's as Leet and Horan both chipped in with two hits apiece. Cordio scored both of Worcester State's runs.

The Lancers started off the second game strong with four runs over the first two innings. Junior Alex Kerr (Franklin, MA) belted a two-run double and senior Lauren Besozzi (Milford, MA) added a run-producing single in a three-run first-inning. Cordio plated the other run when she drove in freshman Kaitlyn Storro (Leominster, MA) in the top of the second.

But the Scots (7-3) would string together base-hits and take advantage of errors to take over a 7-3 lead after three complete. First-year Deni Hart (Shreve, OH) and classmate Carly Schoenstein (Bethel Park, PA) had RBI doubles in the third while junior Gina Pirolozzi (Canton, OH) had a two-run single.

After allowing seven runs to score, WSU sophomore Kelly Winter (Attleboro, MA) settled down and gave her team a chance to rally. She would strand four in scoring position over her final three innings of work.

The Lancers had their opportunity in the top of the sixth when they scored twice in the inning. After a single and an error in the infield put runners on first and second, Cordio induced another miscue at short as the ball went into the outfield – scoring two runs on the play. But the inning abruptly ended when Cordio was cut down trying to get an extra base at second on the play.

Scot junior Jenn Horton (Worthington, OH) set down three of her last four hitters in a scoreless seventh for her first save of the season. She came into the game in the fourth and collected the three-inning save.

Pirolozzi (4-1) went the first four innings allowing four runs on five hits to go along with one walk and two strikeouts. Horton had fanned four and issued one free pass in her appearance.

Winter (0-1) was tagged for the loss in the complete-game effort. She yielded seven runs (five earned) on 10 hits with one strikeout and three walks.

Nearly every member of Wooster had one base-knock while Schoenstein was 3-for-3. Roy was the only multi-hitter for the Lancers.

Worcester State continues their spring trip tomorrow against The University of New England at 1 PM and Smith at 3 o'clock.