Worcester, MA --- WPI rallied from two-run deficits in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings to defeat visiting Worcester State 6-5 in the nightcap to complete a sweep of a non-conference softball doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon at its new Rooftop Field.
The Engineers, who took the opener 5-0, 16-7 overall while Worcester State dips to 5-12 on the season.
After the Blue and Gold pushed its advantage to 3-1 on an unearned run that plated sophomore Hayley Terry (North Dighton, MA) on an run-producing single by freshman Mackenzie Crumley (Fall River, MA/Durfee), WPI sent the game to extra frames on a two-run solo knock by sophomore Jacquelyne DiTroia (Andover, MA) that brought first-year Hope Shevchuk (Burlington, CT) and classmate Julia Ring (Leominster, MA) home.
Worcester State fought back with two runs in the top of the eighth featuring a junior Taylor Hanley (Wilmington, MA) RBI single and a throwing error following a freshman Kayla Humphrey (Wallingford, CT) infield single.
Trailing 5-3, the Engineers rallied again, highlighted by two hits, a pair of sacrifice bunts and aided by an error. Kristin Gallagher (Coventry, RI) sliced the advantage in half with a run-scoring single to center before she leveled the score after a sacrifice bunt by Katie Bumila (Raynham, MA) and a throwing error. After another sacrifice bunt where an out was not recorded, Shevchuk laced a ball to short and Bumila scampered home just ahead of the throw.
WPI jumped out to a 1-0 advantage on a Gallagher sacrifice fly in the first before the Lancers took the lead on RBI singles from Humphrey in the third and fifth innings.
Sophomore Clare Doolin (Newton, MA) pitched up her second win of the day, by not allowing an earned run in 3 2/3 innings of relief. Humphrey went the distance in game two for the Lancers, yielding just four earned runs.
Freshman Courtney Salisbury (Cranston, RI), Humphrey and Crumley all had three hits in the night game for WSU while senior Nicole McDonough (Abington, MA), fourth-year teammate Juliana Fekete (Belgrade, ME) all were repeat hitters for the Engineers.
Doolin (8-4) was masterful in game one, hurling six shutout innings. The right hander fanned four while scattering five hits and walking two.
Junior Amanda Pierce (Ware, MA) was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and a pair batted in. The leftfielder played a huge role as the Engineers broke up a 1-0 game with a three spot in the bottom of the fourth. Peirce smashed a double to left field before scoring on a Gallagher single through the right side.
The Crimson and Gray closed out the scoring in the sixth when senior Ali LaRue (South Glenn Falls, NY) chased home Pierce with a RBI ground out.
Freshman Mary McKeown (Shrewsbury, MA) shouldered the loss for the Lancers, allowing four runs in 3 1/3 innings of work. Hanley pocketed two of the guest's five hits in the opener.
WPI back in action this Friday at 3:30pm against Smith on the Rooftop Field, while Worcester State entertains Westfield State this Saturday at noon.
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