Worcester, MA --- Worcester State and MCLA split a doubleheader in MASCAC softball action this afternoon at Rockwood Park.
The Trailblazers were led by a dominant pitching performance by sophomore Rachel Quackenbush (Hoosick Falls, NY) in the opener for the 2-1 victory before the Lancers were led in the nightcap with three RBIs at the plate by senior Hillary Hart (Clinton, MA) en route to a 4-2 triumph.
Quackenbush fanned ten and hurled a two-hitter in the first contest. She allowed one earned run and walked just one batter.
Worcester State (5-10, 3-1 MASCAC) opened the games scoring with the 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first when sophomore Hayley Terry (N. Dighton, MA) struck a single through the left side with two men down to plate sophomore Sara Pelletier (Leominster, MA). Pelletier reached on a double and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch.
MCLA (4-10, 1-3 MASCAC) answered in the top of the third when Quackenbush tied up the score on an RBI single to right center, scoring junior Amanda Meczywor (Adams, MA). Sophomore Jennifer Sicinski (Shelton, VT) then gave the visitors the 2-1 margin on a double into the left field gap to drive in Quackenbush.
The Lancers had a golden opportunity to respond in the bottom of the fourth. Taking advantage of infield miscues, Terry and freshman Kayla Humphrey (Wallingford, CT) both stood at second and third, but Quackenbush retired the side with a punch-out and a ground-out to end the threat.
Quackenbush then bore down on the WSU's line-up as she set down nine of the last 11 she saw and rung up the side in the fifth inning to become MCLA's all-time career strikeout leader.
WSU had one final chance in the last of the seventh to score the equalizer. With runners on first and second, Quackenbush reached back and punched out the final two to help seal up the first conference victory of the season for the Trailblazers.
After giving up two runs in the third, sophomore Meghan Rich (Chelmsford, MA) matched the effort in the opposing circle by silencing MCLA's offense. Rich spun four scoreless innings of one-hit softball for the Lancers.
Rich (2-5) gave up two earned runs to go with six hits, two strikeouts and one walk.
The Trailblazers outhit the Lancers, 6-2, in the opener with the contests lone multi-hitter being Sicinski who launched a pair of doubles.
In the finale, the hosts took over the early 1-0 margin in the bottom of the second. Terry reached base and got to third base on a misplayed outfield fly, she scampered home on a sacrifice fly by Humphrey.
MCLA came right back and took over the 2-1 lead in the top of the third on a two-run double by sophomore Samantha Boyle (Pittsfield, MA), to knock in Sicinski and junior Samantha Barbarotta (Pittsfield, MA).
Worcester State took over the 3-2 advantage for good in the bottom half of the third frame. With Hanley on third and freshman Courtney Salisbury (Cranston, RI) at second, Hart drove both runners in with a two-bagger to right center for the go-ahead scores.
Hart helped give the Lancers some insurance in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single to score Salisbury, who reached on an errant throw by the third baseman.
Sophomore Marissa Avanzato (Pittsfield, MA) earned her first victory of the campaign in relief. Avanzato (1-2) gave up two runs (one earned) on three hits and she stranded MCLA sophomore Sierra Bailey (Hoosick Falls, NY), who hammered a two-out triple in the fourth.
Humphrey, who actually started the contest by pitching the first two frames, came into the circle in the fifth and tossed three perfect innings to record her first collegiate save. All told, Humphrey scattered a trio of hits over her five stanzas of work to go with two free passes and a pair of strikeouts.
Quackenbush absorbed the setback for the Trailblazers in the second contest as she struck out two and allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits.
With the win and the loss, Quackenbush moves to 4-5 on the campaign. With 12 punch outs on the afternoon, she moved past Rebecca Golden (2000-03) on the career strikeout list.
Hart and Hanley paced a Lancer attack that edged their opponents out in base-knocks, 7-6. Hart finished with a pair of safties while Hanley was 2-for-2 out of the ninth slot in the order. Salisbury scored twice for WSU.
MCLA did not have any multiple hitters, but Boyle did finish driving in both of the runs for the visitors.
Both squads will take on non-conference opponents in Tuesday afternoon twinbills. Worcester State takes on crosstown rival WPI at 4 PM while the Trailblazers host Amherst in a 3:30 affair.