Softball Tops MCLA Twice for MASCAC Sweep

WORCESTER, Mass. – Worcester State softball pitcher Emily Bartlett (Lowell, Mass.) threw a complete game shutout to help Worcester State sweep MCLA in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action on Monday afternoon at Rockwood Field.

Worcester State (11-11, 4-0 MASCAC) is set for a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday at 4:00 PM against Rhode Island College.

Game 1: Worcester State 8, MCLA 0 (6 inn.)

Bartlett was tremendous in the circle for Worcester State, striking out 13 batters and allowing just three singles and no walks over six shutout innings. Bartlett, who improves to 5-5 on the year, threw 58 of her 75 pitches for strikes, good for a strike rate of better than 80%.

The lineup backed her up with a five-run fourth inning, and Bartlett helped out her own cause with a two-run single to right field during that rally.

Naraylee Baez (Northborough, Mass.) was 3-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs, and she got the scoring started in the second when she came all the way around to score on a ball that she hit to right field and was misplayed into three extra bases. Brynna Meeker (Northwood, N.H.) scored from third on the play after walking to lead off the inning. She would also take a free pass to start the bottom of the fourth and again scored on a single by Baez, this time with the bases loaded and nobody out.

A wild pitch brought home Rachel Sinclair (Westminster, Mass.) before Bartlett plated two, stole second, and scored on a single down the left field line by Lauren Dube (Leominster, Mass.), who was 2-4.

The Lancers walked off with their eighth run in the bottom of the sixth when Dube, who had led off with a single, scored on an RBI groundout by Meeker.

Lora Woyton (Attleboro, Mass.) suffered the loss (1-6), allowing six earned runs on eight hits and five walks over five and a third.

Madison Teta (Troy, N.Y.) had two of the three Trailblazer hits at the top of the lineup.

Game 2: Worcester State 3, MCLA 1

Emma Lanpher (Charlton, Mass.) doubled to left center to score two runs and then crossed the plate on a fielding error as the Lancers scored all three runs in the second inning.

Jen Thorburn (Groton, Mass.) went six and two-thirds innings and struck out six while allowing just one run. She picked up her fifth win of the season to improve to 5-3 in the circle.

Jackie Andry (Westford, Mass.) and Lanpher each had two hits and scored a run, while Thorburn also crossed the plate on Lanpher's two-base hit.

MCLA loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the seventh and chased Thorburn from the game. They pushed across a run on a hit by pitch, but Sarah Gosselin (Charlton, Mass.) got a strikeout to close out the win and collect her first career save.