Worcester, MA --- Western Connecticut sophomore Emily Cintorino (Bristol, CT) earned two victories in the circle for the Colonials as they defeated Worcester State, 9-3 and 10-2 in six innings at Rockwood Park.
The Colonials (14-4-1) scored single runs over the first two innings to take over an early 2-0 advantage. Senior Kylee Ruther (Stamford, CT) rapped out a single through the left side in the opening frame and senior Jessica Caturano (Holbrook, NY) sliced a solo hit to center in the second.
Worcester State (2-9) cut the deficit in half when freshman Courtney Salisbury (Cranston, RI/Cranston West) scored junior Katie Storro (Leominster, MA) from third. Storro reached on double with one out.
But Western Connecticut scored six times in the top of the third to take over the 8-2 edge.
The Blue and Gold did not go away quietly as they sliced into margin in the bottom of the same inning.
Senior Hillary Hart (Clinton, MA) and sophomore Hayley Terry (N. Dighton, MA) reached on consecutive solo safeties and crossed home plate on RBIs by freshman Mackenzie Crumley (Fall River, MA/Durfee) and classmate Mary McKeown (Shrewsbury, MA) to help WSU trail 8-3.
Cintorino, however, had other plans in store for the Colonials as she tossed four scoreless frames of three hit relief to help seal up the victory for the visitors.
Western Connecticut touched up sophomore Marissa Avanzato (Pittsfield, MA) for a run in the top of the sixth for the final score.
Freshman Kayla Humphrey (Wallingford, CT) was dealt the setback in the opener for the Lancers. Humphrey (1-2) gave up eight runs (two earned) on eight hits while she fanned one and walked three.
Avanzato scattered seven hits and allowed one earned run in four effective frames to spell Humphrey.
Hart was 4-for-4 to pace a nine-hit Blue and Gold attack as she jacked a pair of doubles for WSU as Terry finished with two base-knocks.
In the nightcap, the Colonials opened things up with a three spot in the top of the first inning. Weber hammered a two-run double down the line before Ruther added an RBI ground out.
WSU promptly responded and made the score 3-2 taking advantage of a throwing error by the third baseman. Salisbury reached on a lead-off single and scampered all the way home as the misplayed bunt went down the right-field line. Hart then recorded her fifth consecutive hit on an RBI single to right field.
Western Connecticut, however, gave themselves some breathing room with a three-run stanza in the top of the third. Junior Julia Bocek (Southington, CT), sophomore Maegan Rodriguez (E. Haven, CT) and Caturano all drove in scores in the inning.
The Colonials put the contest away in the top of the sixth as Rodriguez underscored the frame with a two-run triple to right center.
Worcester State had opportunities to cut into the margin with runners on second and third in the bottom of the third and again with sophomore Jillian Witkowski (Leicester, MA) in scoring position in the fifth with Hart at the plate. But Silman, who was inserted from the field both times to face Hart, induced ground outs each time to end the threat.
Cintorino, Silman and sophomore Alie Sabith (Meriden, CT) combined to hurl five scoreless stanzas to keep the Blue and Gold off the board.
All told, Cintorino rung up three on strikes in her 8 1/3 frames of work on the day, allowed two unearned runs and she upped her record to 7-1 on the campaign with two victories.
Sophomore Meghan Rich (Chelmsford, MA) absorbed the loss for the Blue and Gold. She yielded six runs (five earned) on seven hits as she struck out four and issued one base on balls.
Salisbury was the lone multi-hitter for the Lancers with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate.
Both squads return to action again with 12 PM conference twinbills on Saturday. Worcester State travels to Mass Maritime to open MASCAC play while Western Connecticut hosts Southern Maine in a LEC matchup.
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