Despres’ .700 Batting Average Leads Her to MASCAC Softball Player of the Week Honors

WORCESTER, Mass. – Worcester State University's senior softball player Sydney Despres (Sterling, Mass.) has been tabbed the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) softball player of the week, as announced by the league Monday (Apr. 30) afternoon.

This past week, Despres batted .700 (14-20) with a double, two home runs, 10 runs scored and 11 RBI plus a 1.050 slugging percentage and .667 on-base percentage in a 6-0 week to help the Lancers earn the MASCAC regular season title and top seed in the tournament.

"Sydney has been consistent the whole season," commented head coach Michelle Cote.  "It helps having Dakota batting after her who is hitting phenomenal also this year, as the opponents have to pitch to them."

Despres went 6-for-6 with a home run, four RBI and four runs scored in the doubleheader sweep of Becker College. In game two of the twinbill, she hit her 200^th collegiate career hit. She then went 7-for-8 with five runs scored, one double, and five RBI in the doubleheader sweep of Massachusetts Maritime. She went 1-for-3 with a home run, run scored and two RBI in the 4-1 game two win over Fitchburg State.

"As a whole the team is focused on taking one game at a time and just having fun," said Cote.  "When we play loose and have fun good things have happened. Sydney is a special player and she is making every at bat count as her college career winds down. She is just having fun."

The Worcester State softball team earned a first round bye into the MASCAC tournament and will host the quarterfinal, semifinal and championship rounds of the tournament Friday-Sunday (May 4-6). Friday's quarterfinal game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. at Rockwood Park.