Softball Eliminated from MASCAC Tournament with Losses to Framingham State and Westfield State

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester State University softball team was eliminated from the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) tournament on Saturday (May 5) as they were upset and shutout by the second seeded Framingham State Rams in the first game of the day, and edged by Westfield State in the final game of the day.

GAME ONE: #2 Framingham State 5, #1 Worcester State 0

The second seeded Rams shutout the top seeded Lancers by a score of 5-0 to advance to the MASCAC finals, as they scored their five runs on seven hits and one Lancer error.

Framingham State's junior pitcher Kelsi Gunarathne (Providence, R.I.) earned her second victory of the tournament going seven shutout innings and allowing just seven hits with five strikeouts and no walks.

The Rams grabbed the lead for good in the top of the second inning on a solo homer to center field by freshman Grace Caughey (Mendon, Mass.).

The Rams added two more in the top of the third extending the lead to 3-0.  Senior Megan Downing (Hanson, Mass.) plated a run with a single up the middle and Caughey plated her second run of the game on a single to left.

The Rams capped the scoring with two in the top of the seventh on a two-run double by junior Kayla Finnacchiaro (Natick, Mass.).

• The Rams received three hits in the contest from Caughey, while Downing added a pair. 
• Caughey and Finacchiaro the Rams with two RBI apiece.
• Camille Desrochers (Westford, Mass.) swiped a base from the Blue and Gold.
• The Lancers received two hits from Dakota Smith-Porter (Montague, Mass.).
• Each team left eight runners on base.
• Worcester State's starting pitcher, Smith-Porter, suffered the loss in the circle as she pitched 2 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on three hits. She walked two batters and struck out three.
• Lancer relief pitcher Carly Zielinski (Monson, Mass.) pitched four and a quarter and allowed two runs on four hits. She also walked two.

GAME TWO: #3 Westfield State 3, #1 Worcester State 2

The Owls of Westfield State overcame a two-run deficit in the final game of the day and scored three runs on five hits in the top of the fifth for a 3-2 edge over the Lancers. Worcester State was eliminated from the tournament with the setback.

Sydney Despres (Sterling, Mass.) gave the Lancers the lead in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI groundout to shortstop.

The Lancers added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Smith-Porter reached home on an Owl fielding error.

The fifth inning proved to be in the Owls favor as they plated three runs on five hits. Back-to-back singles from Maddie Keigwin (Sutton, Mass.) and Bri Tortora (Worcester, Mass.) and a sacrifice hit from Lindsay Cordopatri (Walpole, Mass.) put the runners in scoring position. Next up, Maddy Atkocaitis (Westfield, Mass.) singled to left center to plate two runs. Another run came home on an RBI single from Angelica Banning (East Granby, Conn.) for the 3-2 advantage.

Worcester State had a chance to match the run in the bottom of the fifth when they loaded the bases, but a foul out and shortstop kept Westfield State atop for good, 3-2.

• Westfield State's Banning batted 2-for-3 with an RBI.
• Atkocaitis recorded a game-high two RBI.
• Ennis was the batting leader for Worcester State, going 2-for-4 with one run scored.
• Cordopatri and Kristen Huston (Spencer, Mass.) each recorded a stolen base for their team.
• Westfield State's Emily Arredondo (Woburn, Mass.) earned the win in four innings pitched. Relief pitcher, Emily Woodworth (Marlborough, Mass.), earned the save in three innings pitched.
• Worcester State's Rachel Frisch (Worcester, Mass.) was tabbed the loss in the complete-game. She allowed three runs on eight hits. She walked two batters and struck out four.

UP NEXT

Framingham State and Westfield State will battle for the MASCAC tournament title tomorrow (May 6) at Rockwood Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 12 noon. The MASCAC regular season champions, Worcester State, conclude the 2018 season with a 23-11 overall record.

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