Worcester, MA --- Junior Taylor Hanley (Wilmington, MA) rapped out four hits and scored a trio of runs as she helped pace Worcester State to a 3-2 and 3-1 sweep over Westfield State in MASCAC softball action this afternoon at Rockwood Park.
In the opener, the Lancers (7-12, 5-1 MASCAC) pushed across the first run with a single run in the bottom of the second. Hanley doubled with one man down, reached third on a wild pitch and scampered home on a passed ball for the early 1-0 lead.
Westfield State (9-11, 2-4 MASCAC) responded in the top of the fourth and equalized the game 1-1 on a sacrifice fly by freshman Paige Circosta (Feeding Hills, MA) to plate senior Molly Dunbar (Weymouth, MA).
But the Blue and Gold grabbed a pair of scores with two outs in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 3-1 contest.
After sophomore Hayley Terry (N. Dighton, MA) reached on an infield single, Hanley drove her in on a double to left. Second-year Sara Pelletier (Leominster, MA) followed with an RBI single to complete the rally and score Hanley.
Westfield State touched up freshman reliever Kayla Humphrey (Wallingford, CT) with a run in the top of the sixth to inch closer. With junior Kelsey Carpenter (Barre, MA) on second, she touched home on a run producing solo safety by freshman Julia Sullivan (W. Barnstable, MA).
Down 3-2 in the last of the seventh, senior Amanda Flower (Reading, MA) found herself at third as two outs read on the scoreboard when she reached base on a misplayed ball by the right fielder. But Humphrey retired the final batter with a ground out to seal up the win and her second stop of the campaign.
The Owls had their chances early on with runners on base over the first three frames with one out or less. But WSU sophomore Meghan Rich (Chelmsford, MA) got out of dodge each time by using her off speed delivery and great location to strand five in scoring position before departing in the fifth.
Rich (3-5) gave up one earned run to go along with five base-knocks, two strikeouts and one free pass over her four frames of work. Humphrey gave up a duo of hits and one unearned score to nail down the three stanza save.
Senior Kelly Fluet (Worcester, MA/Doherty) was tagged with the loss in the complete-game effort – her fifth of the season. Fluet (3-5) allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits while fanning three and issuing one base on balls.
Westfield State led 7-4 in base-knocks with no multi-hitters in the opener. Hanley was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and a pair of two-baggers.
In the nightcap, the Lancers notched a pair of runs over the first two frames to take over an early 2-0 edge.
Humphrey hit a deep fly ball to score Salisbury in the bottom of the first before sophomore Jillian Witkowski (Leicester, MA) singled in Hanley in the second. Both Salisbury and Hanley led off the frame with doubles and moved to third on sacrifice bunts.
The Owls sliced into the deficit by cutting the margin in half when Carpenter crossed the plate on a double-play in the top of the fourth.
Worcester State, however, got some fifth inning insurance as Salisbury scampered home on an errant throw after the first baseman tried to make a play at third following an infield single by junior Katie Storro (Leominster, MA).
With the 3-1 advantage on the board in the fifth, sophomore Marissa Avanzato (Pittsfield, MA) rung up two on strikes and she hurled three scoreless frames of one-hit softball to pick up her first WSU save.
Humprey (3-3) earned the victory in the second game as she scattered five base-knocks and allowed one earned run over her four innings of work. Humphrey struck out two and did not walk a batter.
Junior Emily Mailloux (Erving, MA) was tagged with the loss. Mailloux (4-5) yielded three runs (two earned) to go with eight hits and a duo of punch outs.
In the final contest, Worcester State led in hits, 8-6, with two by Hanley and Salisbury. Salisbury also notched two of the Lancers three runs in the contest. Westfield State did not record any multi-hitters in the last game.
Both squads will return to action on Monday. Worcester State hosts MASCAC foe Fitchburg State at 5 o'clock in a double-header while the Owls head west to take on MCLA in conference play in a 2 PM twin bill.
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