Dube Leads Attack as Softball Slugs Their Way to Sweep of AMCATS

PAXTON, Mass. – Sophomore Lauren Dube (Leominster, Mass.) had seven hits, eight runs batted in and six runs scored and hit a grand slam as Worcester State softball swept a doubleheader against Anna Maria on Monday afternoon.

Worcester State (9-9) pounded out 34 hits in 12 innings of softball as the Lancers defeated the AMCATS (6-12) 10-5 in the opening game and then sealed the sweep with a 16-2 five-inning victory in game 2.

The Lancers will be back on the field tomorrow afternoon in Wenham, Mass. with a 3:00 pm doubleheader against Gordon College.

Game 1: Worcester State 10, Anna Maria 5

The Lancers trailed 5-1 heading into the sixth inning, but scored 9 runs in the sixth to take and extend their lead.

The rally was capped by a two-run homer to left field by Rachel Sinclair (Westminster, Mass.), her first collegiate home run. Worcester scored nine runs on seven hits in the frame, which included an RBI single by Emily Bartlett (Lowell, Mass.), a two-run double by Molly Glynn (Abington, Mass.) and an RBI double by Dube.

Dube and Jacqui Schwalm (Billerica, Mass.) each had 3-4 days at the plate, while Sinclair, Ally Tocman (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and Brynna Meeker (Northwood, N.H.) each had two hits.

Bartlett earned the victory with four and a third innings of work, striking out five.

Game 2: Worcester State 16, Anna Maria 2

Dube was 4-4 with four runs scored and seven RBIs, including a grand slam in the third inning as the Lancers took a 6-0 lead through three before scoring five runs in each of the next two innings.

Bartlett, Schwalm and Emma Lanpher (Charlton, Mass.) went 7-15 with 7 runs scored at the top of the order.

Lanpher opened the scoring in the fourth with an RBI double, then scored on a base hit by Dube. Sinclair knocked in a run with an infield single before Abigail Koziol (Lunenburg, Mass.) doubled to left center to plate Sinclair.

After a five-hit fourth inning, Worcester State recorded six hits in the fifth, including a two-run single by Dube, RBI singles by Tocman and Jordan Geloso (Rutland, Mass.) and an RBI fielder's choice by Naraylee Baez (Northborough, Mass.).

Jen Thorburn (Groton, Mass.) earned the victory with a complete game five-hitter. Thorburn allowed just two earned runs and struck out one without issuing a free pass.