Lancers Softball Clinches Title of MASCAC Regular Season Champs with Sweep Over MCLA

WORCESTER, Mass. — The Worcester State University softball team swept MCLA on Saturday (Apr. 30) afternoon for the regular season title of Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Champions.

"Today the team was focused on not leaving our fate in anyone's hands," stated head coach Michelle Cote. "We were in our own destiny and no one lost sight of that."

Worcester State concludes the regular season with a record of 22-17-1 overall and 12-2 in MASCAC. The Trailblazers fall to 11-21 overall and 5-9 in the conference. 

GAME ONE: WORCESTER STATE 9, MCLA 0

The Lancers plated their first run of the game with two outs in the first inning when Sydney Despres (Sterling, Mass.) crushed the ball out of the park, giving the Lancers the early 1-0 advantage.

The Lancer bats heated up in the bottom of the fourth inning when the Lancers tallied up eight hits and six runs, cycling through the line-up. Getting the Lancers going again was Despres with a single through the left side. Following her lead were teammates Dakota Smith-Porter (Montague, Mass.), Taylor Daniels (Norco, CA), and Sara Pelletier (Leominster, Mass.) each pitching in singles for the offensive effort. Freshman Haley Scola (Worcester, Mass.) tripled to right field, giving the Lancers a 4-0 lead. The Lancers plated two more runs before the end of the inning, giving them a 6-0 advantage after the fourth.

The Lancers plated two more runs in the bottom of the fifth on a two run RBI-double from Scola, ending the game early after five innings.

Scola led the Lancers' offense, going 2-for-3 with a double and a triple and three RBIs. Despres and Pelletier also went 2-for-3 each with an RBI apiece. Rachel Couto (Chelmsford, Mass.) went 2-for-2 with an RBI.

Katie Berghela (Watervliet, NY), Michaela Dinicola (Lanesboro, Mass.), and Jenn Sicinski (Shelton, VT) each had one hit for the Trailblazers.

Worcester State's pitcher Meghan Rich (Chelmsford, Mass.) earns the shutout, allowing only three hits and no runs in five innings. With the win, Rich's record improves to 9-5. Suffering the loss is MCLA's pitcher, Rachel Quackenbush (Hoosick Falls, NY), who allowed 12 hits and nine runs (one unearned) in 4.1 innings. With the loss, Quackenbush's record slides to 6-10.

GAME TWO: WORCESTER STATE 10, MCLA 4

MCLA took advantage of a Lancer error early in the first inning, scoring their first run of the game. However, their run was not left unanswered by the Lancers, who scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Lancers were able to score on a passed ball and again on an RBI-single from Smith-Porter. Capitalizing on MCLA's fielding errors, the Lancers were able to score four more runs in the inning, giving them a 6-1 advantage over the Trailblazers.

MCLA was able to plate one run in each of the third, fifth, and sixth innings. The Lancers plated one run in the second inning, and three more in the sixth to complete the sweep over the Trailblazers.

For the Lancers, Hayley Terry (N. Dighton, Mass.), Despres, Smith-Porter, and Scola each went 2-for-3 in the afternoon game. Also pitching in for the Lancers was Daniels with four RBIs. Courtney Salisbury (Cranston, RI), Despres, and Smith-Porter each had a stolen base for Worcester State.

Leading MCLA's offense was Angelica Perfido (Whately, Mass.) who went 3-for-4 with a double and a stolen base. Also pitching in for the Trailblazer's offense was Berghela, who had an RBI, and Dinicola who had two RBIs.

Worcester State's Kayla Humphrey (Wallingford, Conn.) earns the win, pitching four innings, allowing three hits, two runs, and one walk. Humphrey's record improves to 7-2. Adding to the Lancer's defensive effort was pitcher Marissa Avanzato (Pittsfield, Mass.), who pitched three innings allowing five hits and only two runs (one unearned) and one walk. MCLA's pitcher Katie Henault (West Warwick, RI) is handed the loss giving up five runs (two unearned) and her record falls to 5-11. Quackenbush came in relief in the first inning, allowing five runs (three unearned) and striking out two.

The Lancers look to host the MASCAC playoffs this upcoming weekend at Rockwood Park. MASCAC tournament pairings will be released by tomorrow.

Release by Alyssa Hill | Sports Information Graduate Assistant