Softball Earns Weekend Sweep of Fitchburg State

FITCHBURG, Mass. – The Worcester State University softball team nabbed a pair of non-conference contests from Fitchburg State University this afternoon at the Donna Lee Withington Memorial Field by the scores of 7-1 and 6-3.

With the wins, Worcester State runs its winning streak to six and improves to 9-12-1 overall on the season. Fitchburg State falls to 9-11.

Game 1 - Worcester State 7, Fitchburg State 1

Worcester State opened the scoring in the top of the first as freshman Emily Bartlett (Lowell, Mass.) connected on her first collegiate home run, launching it over the right center field fence for the 1-0 advantage.

The Lancers upped their lead in the second frame when newcomer Lauren Dube (Leominster, Mass.) singled through the right side, moved to second on walk by classmate Angelise Moss (Strafford, N.H.) before fellow freshman Grace Adams (Leominster, Mass.) connected on a two-run single through the right side to make the score 3-0.

The visitors upped the advantage to 7-0 in the third inning, highlighted by a two-run triple off the bat of Adams, while Dube added an RBI single, and sophomore Rachel Sinclair (Westminster, Mass.) notched a sacrifice fly.

Fitchburg State cut the deficit to 7-1 in the bottom of fourth when sophomore Molly Grass (Rockland, Mass.) doubled to center. She would come around to score following a sacrifice bunt from freshman Dana Cisowski (Torrington, Conn.) and a throwing miscue.

Grass led the way for the Falcons, going 1-for-3 with a double and one run scored. Adams paced the Lancers, hitting 2-for-4 with a triple and four runs batted in.

Senior Taylor Colvin (Lancaster, Mass.) took the loss for Fitchburg State, yielding seven runs (five earned) on nine hits with one strikeout. Bartlett picked up the win for Worcester State, giving up one unearned run on two hits with eight strikeouts in the complete game effort.

Game 2 - Worcester State 6, Fitchburg State 3

In the second game on the day, the Lancers grabbed a 2-0 edge in the top of the first when graduate student Samantha Stake (Worcester, Mass.) singled, stole second, and crossed the plate on a base hit by junior Rachel Bigelow (Westborough, Mass.). Bigelow would eventually score as well following a fielding miscue.

The Falcons cut into the lead in the bottom of the second on an RBI double to center from Grass to make the score 2-1.

Worcester State extended the margin in the top half of the third with an RBI single off the bat of freshman Brynna Meeker (Northwood, N.H.).

Trailing 4-1 in the fourth, the Green and Gold responded when newcomer Lauren Kirkconnell (Dayville, Conn.) and sophomore Madison Mantegani (Bellingham, Mass.) registered back-to-back singles, while newcomer Allison Pogorek (Millbury, Mass.) laced a single to left that brought home Kirkconnell to make the score 4-2.

Fitchburg State continued to chip away at the lead as Grass blasted a double into the right center field gap, advanced to third a passed ball and scored on a double to center from Cisowski.

The Lancers answered back in the top of the seventh with Bigelow bringing home Stake with an RBI triple to right center before Bigelow came home on a wild pitch, resulting in the 6-3 final. 

Grass was solid for Fitchburg State again, finishing 3-for-4 with three doubles, one run scored and an RBI.

For Worcester State, Bigelow batted 2-for-3 with a triple, two runs batted in, and two runs scored.

Junior Hayley O'Brien (Lynnfield, Mass.) suffered the setback for the Falcons, allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits with a pair of punch outs in seven innings of work. Junior Jen Thorburn (Groton, Mass.) collected the win for Worcester State, giving up three runs (two earned) on nine hits with six strikeouts over seven innings pitched.

Up next, the Falcons will host the Bears of Bridgewater State on Friday for a MASCAC double header, starting at 2 p.m. The Lancers return to action on Friday as well when they host the Rams of Framingham State for a conference twin billing with a 4 p.m. first pitch.

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Release courtesy of Fitchburg State Athletic Communications.