Kapenas Earns 100th Career Victory in Sweep of Westfield State
Worcester, MA --- Sophomore Katie Roy went 4-for-6 with a homer and two RBIs as she helped lead Worcester State to a 5-3 and 3-2 sweep of Westfield State twice this afternoon at Rockwood Park.
MASCAC Softball Tournament Bracket
Worcester, MA --- Sophomore Katie Roy (Worcester, MA/Burncoat) went 4-for-6 with a homer and two RBIs as she helped lead Worcester State to a 5-3 and 3-2 sweep of Westfield State twice this afternoon at Rockwood Park.
In securing the two victories this afternoon, the third-seeded Lancers (21-14, 10-4 MASCAC) take on #6 Framingham State in the opening round of the MASCAC Tournament on Thursday at 5 o'clock. Should they win, they will play second-seeded MCLA on Friday in the Quarterfinal round. The Owls season comes to a close at 7-28 and 4-10 in conference action.
The win in game one marked the 100th career victory for head coach Jennifer Kapenas who is 100-83-1 (.548) in her five seasons at Worcester State. In addition, she has helped lead the Blue and Gold to four consecutive 20-win campaigns for the first time in program history.
In the opener, senior Hannah Everson (Methuen, MA) helped put the hosts up 1-0 in the bottom of the first with an RBI single to plate junior Carolyn Hassett (Charlton, MA), who reached on a lead-off bunt single and moved into scoring position with a swipe of second.
Hassett then helped give Worcester State the 4-0 advantage in the second on a two-run single before senior Alex Kerr (Franklin, MA) tacked on an RBI on a fielder's choice bunt play.
Junior Hillary Hart (Clinton, MA) put the Blue and Gold up 5-0 with a solo homer to lead off the bottom of the third for her second dinger of the campaign.
But the Owls did not go away quietly as senior Courtney Begin (Salem, MA) stole home and sophomore Celina Sinico (Great Barrington, MA) added an RBI ground-out to slice into the deficit.
In the sixth, Westfield State tacked on one more run to trail 5-3 when junior Molly Dunbar (Weymouth, MA) scored on a misplayed ball by the shortstop.
But Everson hurled a scoreless top of the seventh with two strikeouts – including the 300th of her career to seal up the win for the Lancers. Everson (6-5) fanned eight and allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits while she also walked one.
Junior Kelley Fluet (Worcester, MA/Doherty) shouldered the win in the complete-game effort. Fluet (4-9) gave up five runs (four earned) on seven hits to go with five punch-outs and one walk.
Hassett, Roy and Hart all chipped in with two hits each to pace a seven-hit attack as Westfield State did not have any multi-hitters in the opener.
In the nightcap, the Kerr doubled in Roy, who had reached on a solo base-knock, for the early 1-0 edge in the bottom of the second.
Westfield State quickly equalized the score in the top of the third on a Begin sacrifice fly to drive in junior Amanda Flower (Reading, MA). Flower hammered a double to left center and stole third.
The Owls made the score 2-1 in the top of the fifth on a run producing double by Begin, to put runners on second and third. But freshman Meghan Rich (Chelmsford, MA) set down her final two batters to end the threat.
After Everson tossed a scoreless sixth to keep Westfield State's bats at bay, Roy helped give the Lancers the 3-2 lead with a two-run blast to left center for her second homer of the season.
Everson fanned the side in the top of the seventh to help the Lancers sweep their opponents and earn a first-round home game in the playoffs.
Rich did not receive the decision as she went the first five frames allowing two earned runs on four hits to go with a trio of strikeouts. Everson (7-5) earned the victory in the two-inning stint as she rung up four on strikes and yielded a pair of base-knocks.
Sophomore Emily Mailloux (Erving, MA) was saddled with the setback as she allowed three earned runs on eight hits. Mailloux (3-12) also recorded a three strikeouts and walked no on in her six innings of work.
Roy, Kerr and freshman Hayley Terry (N. Dighton, MA) all finished with two hits apiece for Worcester State while Begin was 3-for-3 with a double and two RBIs in the setback for the visitors.
Kerr, Everson along with fourth-year classmates Aimee Lamoureux (E. Brookfield, MA) and Kylene Pease (Ashland, MA), were recognized in a post-game ceremony for playing in their final regular season home contests on "Senior Day."