Lancers Snag Win in Opener, Secure MASCAC Split Against Owls

Worcester, Mass. - The Worcester State University softball team split a Friday afternoon Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) double header against the Westfield State University Owls at Ralph Raymond Diamond.  The Lancers took game 1 by the final score of, 2-1, while Westfield State capped the afternoon with a, 6-3, victory.  The Lancers now stand at 12-14 (5-1 MASCAC) while Westfield is now 11-15 (4-2 MASCAC).

In Game 1, the Owls jumped out to a, 1-0, lead in the top of the first.  Senior leadoff batter Lindsey Cordopatri (Walpole, Mass.) doubled to open the game and came around on a single to left by shortstop Alyssa Clark (Uxbridge, Mass.)

The third inning proved to be the decisive frame as the Lancers posted two runs on a 2-run single by sophomore Lauren Dube (Leominster, Mass.) scoring first year Abigail Koziol (Lunenburg, Mass.) and pitcher Emily Bartlett (Lowell, Mass.).

Bartlett (6-6) was strong in the circle as well as she scattered 6 hits and struck out 8 on the afternoon.  Westfield State pitcher Steph Scoville (Northbridge, Mass.) (7-5) took the loss for Westfield State.

Koziol was the only multi-hit player in Game 1 going 3 for 3.

In Game 2, Westfield State posted runs in 4 different innings and got a strong pitching performance from Katherine Canty (Natick, Mass.) to take the nightcap.

In the third, Worcester State reliever Jen Thorburn (Groton, Mass.) almost got of trouble by striking out two Owls with runners on second and third but sophomore Lexus Mastromatteo (Shrewsbury, Mass.) singled to right to drive in two runs for a lead that Westfield would never relinquish.

The Lancers cut the lead in half when Erin Lanpher (Charlton, Mass.) tripled and was driven home on a squeeze bunt by Brynna Meeker (Northwood, N.H.).

Both teams plated 4^th inning runs.  The Westfield tally came on a Colleen Hughes (Hanson, Mass.) single to center knocking in Mastromatteo who had singled and stolen second.   The Lancers answered with a sacrifice fly by Jackie Andry (Westford, Mass.) setting the score at, 4-2.

In the top of the 6^th, Hughes drove in Mastromatteo for the second time on the day.  Westfield added two more in the top of the 7^th on RBI singles by Megan Metzger (Uxbridge, Mass.) and Canty who helped herself with the base knock.

Lanpher's second triple of the game leading off the 7^th; followed by a Meeker RBI groundout cut into the lead but the Lancers couldn't muster a further threat.

Canty (3-4) gave up just runs on 7 hits while striking out 6 in earning the win.  Molly Glynn (Abington, Mass.) (1-4) took the loss for the Lancers.

Worcester State returns to action on Monday when they travel to Buzzards Bay to take on the Massachusetts Maritime Buccaneers.  Westfield State will host Bridgewater State on Monday.