This spring, freshmen across the board have been playing key roles on their respective teams. Making the jump from high school to the NCAA can be difficult. For some, there’s an adjustment period where student-athletes have to go through the growing pains, which makes it all the more impressive that these Lancers have been so impactful already. From multiple MASCAC Rookie of the Week awards to game changing plays, here are just some of the student-athletes making their mark in just their first season at the collegiate level.
Softball
Bella Gasbarro
Coming to Worcester State by way of Leominster, Mass., Bella Gasparro has been a big reason why the Lancers have had success this season. An astronomical .431 batting average is something you usually only see early in the season. But Gasparro has accumulated that number in nearly 110 at-bats. It’s no surprise that she’s already got a couple of MASCAC Rookie of the Week awards as she’s ripped 11 doubles, four triples, three homes and has brought her RBI total to 27.
Morgan Keefe
Dracut, Mass. native Morgan Keefe has joined her teammate Gasparro as a MASCAC Rookie of the Week this season. But her success has not been limited to a single week. An OPS just shy of .900 to compliment three extra-base hits has made Keefe an important part of the Lancer lineup. She ranks fourth on the team in stolen bases, and third in on-base percentage.
Baseball
Joseph Auger
Worcester State has gotten a huge boost at the catching position from Lowell, Mass. native Joe Auger. Wearing number 44, Auger has come up big in the clutch at the plate with seven RBI in less than 40 plate appearances. His power has been on display as he blasted his first collegiate homer in a conference battle against MCLA to compliment three doubles on the season thus far. Auger has also been strong behind the plate, with a 50% caught stealing percentage.
Nolan Turner
To be a consistent weapon out of the bullpen in northeast college baseball is to be valuable. A trait that Nolan Turner (Barnstable, Mass.) has proven through his first six appearances in the NCAA he has in spades. A 2.02 ERA is more than impressive, and his 11 strikeouts in 13.1 innings pitched shows promise for a fantastic career. Perhaps the most important component of Turner’s game is the ability to extend himself, having gone multiple innings on four occasions.
Lacrosse
Mckayla Fisher
Fisher has entered the college lacrosse world with a head of steam, paving her way to a string of three straight MASCAC Rookie of the Week nods. An accolade that has been well-deserved for Fisher, who has accumulated 38 points by way of 21 goals and 17 assists. Hailing from Peabody, Mass., Fisher’s got five hat tricks over 15 games. Three times she’s supplied multiple assists to the Lancers.
Abigail Vincent
When Abigail Vincent takes a shot, there’s a good chance it’s going to find the back of the net. The freshman midfielder from Lakeville, Mass., has 11 goals on 23 shots on net, which means just under half the time she shoots, she scores. The 47.8% success rate on shots is good enough for fourth on a strong Lancer lacrosse team. Vincent’s play earned her the first MASCAC Rookie of the Week award of her career a couple of weeks ago.