Lancers Claim the Split with Westfield, Shutting the Owls out in Game Two Action in Near No Hitter

Worcester, MA- Looking to bounce back after a tough sweep by MCLA on Wednesday, the Worcester State Softball team (9-8, 0-2) journey's to Westfield State to even themselves out at .500 in the conference.

Final

Game 1

Worcester State: 2

Westfield State: 6

Game 2

Worcester State: 7

Westfield State: 0

How it Happened:

Westfield put the pressure on the Lancers early in game one as they were able to work a run in at the bottom of the first and tack on three more in the second before the Worcester defense was able to stem the pressure and begin to rally their offense to counter the early gains. The Owls would claim one more run before the Lancers would begin to work their way back into the second half of the game as first year Lauren Field (Holden, MA) would get on base and be brought home off a combination of senior Jordan Geloso (Rutland, MA) laying a sacrifice bunt and sophomore Callie Brouillard (Millbury, MA) doubling down the left field line for run one. Senior Emma Lanpher (Charlton, MA) would move Brouillard to third with a wild pitch, sending her across for number two. 

The bottom of the fifth would see the Owls tack on an additional run to find the score at 6-2 into the top of the sixth which held through the end of the seventh for Westfield to take game one 6-2. 

To start off the second game of the doubleheader, Worcester State got on the board first as junior Amanda Adamuska (Dudley, MA) doubled to the left field, bringing in junior Bella Gasbarro (Leominster, MA) with the initial run and advancing to third base. First-year Laurel Field (Holden, MA) bunted to the left on a fly ball, bringing in Adamuska and putting Worcester State up 2-0 in the second inning. The action would remain scoreless until the sixth where Worcester would find senior Abigail Koziol (Lunenburg, MA) singling into base followed by a Gasbarro single to center for town in. Junior Carisa Andrew's (Medfield, MA) would be called into action for the base running of Koziol. Geloso singled to left field which would bring in Andrews and Gasbarro for two additional runs for Worcester.

The top of the seventh had Worcester extending their lead and attempting to make the Owls comeback attempt harder with a local junior Emma Lapoint (Westfield, MA) single who was then brought home on a junior Morgan Keefe (Dracut, MA) double. A Koziol single would then send in Keefe while Field would single to bring Koziol for three runs in the seventh. The Lancers would hold off any bid at the bottom of the seventh to claim the 7-0 victory in game two. Sophomore Peyton Maloney (West Boylston, MA) would go the full seven, recording four strikeouts in the win allowing just one hit in the bottom of the seventh in the near no-hitter. 

What's Next:

The Lancers (10-9, 1-3) will be back in action next Thursday when they take the quick trip to Anna Maria to face the AMCATs with a 3 pm first pitch scheduled.