Softball Defeated Twice To Close Out Florida Spring Break Trip

Clermont, FL --- Worcester State was defeated twice on their Florida trip by Utica, 9-0, in five innings and by Wisconsin-River Falls, 4-1 in the finale at Hancock Park on Friday afternoon.

In the first game of the day for the Lancers (7-3), the Pioneers were paced by junior Alysa Russell (Mechanicsville, NY) who put her squad on top 1-0 with a solo homer.

Utica (4-5) then tacked on three more runs in the second and four in the third inning, with another solo home run shot by Russell.

WSU broke up a combined no-hit bid by the Pioneer pitching staff in the bottom of the fifth.

Following a walk by senior Taylor Hanley (Wilmington, MA), junior Jillian Witkowski (Leicester, MA) reached on an infield single and then both runners moved into scoring position on a throw that was off the mark by the shortstop.

But with two outs on the scoreboard, freshman Brittany Meka (Averill Park, NY) spun a ground ball to the third baseman, who retired the final batter to preserved the eight-run margin for the victory.

The Lancers also had another chance to score with one down in the fourth after junior Corrie Derosier (Shrewsbury, MA/Holy Name) was plunked and sophomore Rachel Couto (Chelmsford, MA) induced a miscue in the infield by the third baseman.

However, junior Abby Monroe (Watertown, NY) calmly ended the threat by setting down the final two batters on ground outs.

Freshman Julie Melanson (Gardner, MA) was dealt the loss as her record fell to 1-1 on the season.

Worcester State took over the early 1-0 advantage in the second contest against Wisconsin-River Falls.

After Salisbury and senior Katie Storro (Leominster, MA) singled to start off the frame, Salisbury advanced to third on a wild pitch and crossed home plate on an RBI ground out by junior Hayley Terry (N. Dighton, MA).

With the one-run margin on the board, the Lancers had a frustrating time at the plate leaving runners in scoring position in the second and fifth innings. Falcon senior Abbie Morris (Woodbury, MN) also kept her team in the game by allowing her squad to make a final charge at the end.

Wisconsin River Falls (9-9) scored four times in the bottom of the sixth. Morris tied up the score 1-1 on a wild pitch and then junior Abby Veloske (Ham Lake, MN). The final two runs came in the form of a two-run blast by freshman Shannan Borchardt (Prior Lake, MN).

The Blue and Gold attempted one final uprising in the top of the seventh.

Junior Sara Pelletier (Leominster, MA) rapped out a single to center with one out, but the first baseman made a tremendous line drive catch in foul territory to double Pelletier off base and end the game.

Sophomore Kayla Humphrey (Wallingford, CT) was tagged with the loss in the circle for WSU. Humphrey (3-2) came in relief of junior Marissa Avanzato (Pittsfield, MA) who hurled 3 1/3 stanzas of three-hit scoreless softball to start off the contest.

Salisbury notched two of her squad's six base-knocks in the setback.

The Lancers are scheduled to play UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday at home in a doubleheader.