Worcester, MA --- Junior Meghan Rich (Chelmsford, MA) earned two wins in the circle, and went 3-for-3 with an RBI in the nightcap as she helped lead Worcester State to a 8-0 victory in five innings and a 3-2 triumph over Bridgewater State at Rockwood Park this afternoon in MASCAC softball action.

In the sweep, the Lancers improve to 11-3 (4-0 MASCAC), playing their first official contests in nearly two weeks, while the Bears fall to 12-7 and 2-3 in league action.

Sophomore Kayla Humphrey (Wallingford, CT), classmate Rachel Couto (Chelmsford, MA) and senior Taylor Hanley (Wilmington, MA) were spark plugs for the hosts in the opener as they each had two base-hits each.

Worcester State took over the 4-0 advantage in the bottom of the first. The scoring was highlighted by a two-run double by Humphrey and a RBI bunt single by senior Alyssa Hill (Irving, MA).

The Lancers brought in three more scores when Hanley drove in Humphrey on a solo knock in the third before Couto belted a two RBI double to the gap in right center in the bottom of the fourth.

WSU ended the contest in five innings to enforce the eight-run rule with a run producing single by junior Sara Pelletier (Leominster, MA), with the bases juiced.

Bridgewater State actually had their chance to keep pace with their opponents throughout the game.

In the top of the first, senior Jocelyn Bettencourt (Plymouth, MA/South) laced a triple into the wind, but she was cut down stealing home after sophomore Courtney Leddy (Saugus, MA) attempted to take second following a free pass.

Again with runners on first and second the Bears nearly pounced in the fifth, but Rich fanned her next batter looking and then she induced a pair of ground outs to end the stanza.  

Rich tossed a four-hitter with a trio of strikeouts to mark the third time on the campaign she has blanked an opponent.

BSU sophomore Iliana Riviera (Nagatuck, CT) was tagged with the loss. Riviera (4-3) gave up eight earned runs on 10 hits to go with two walks and a pair of punch outs. 

In the finale, Worcester State opened the bottom of the first with the 3-0 edge.

Rich plated sophomore Courtney Salisbury (Cranston, RI) on a single to the outfield and then senior Katie Storro (Leominster, MA) scampered home on the misplay by the right fielder. Hanley drove in the third score on a deep two-bagger to center field which brought in junior Hayley Terry (N. Dighton, MA).

Bridgewater State answered in the top of the third by pushing across two unearned scores.

Sophomore Jackie Welch (Hubbardston, MA) touched home following a wild throw by the pitcher at first and then Bettencourt came home on an RBI double by Leddy. During Leddy's plate appearance, she stayed up at the plate when the catcher dropped a potential out on a foul fly.

BSU sophomore Kelly McCarthy (Burlington, MA) pitched well in relief for the visitors as she was inserted into the game with one out in the bottom of the first. McCarthy retired her next two batters and then she spun five frames of two-hit softball, with six strikeouts, to give her club a chance at a split.

Rich (6-0) on the other hand, match the effort by pumping four scoreless frames of two-hit relief. She faced two threats – including a bases loaded situation in the fifth and runners on the corners in the seventh – but she calmly ended both threats to seal the sweep.

Junior Marissa Avanzato (Pittsfield, MA) fired the first three innings for WSU. In her fourth start of the season, she permitted two unearned runs, scattered six hits and gave up one walk.

Sophomore Kathleen Bailey (Bayport, NY) shouldered the setback for the Bears. Bailey (3-2) allowed three earned runs on three base-knocks as she couldn't finish the first inning.

Leddy and McCarthy both finished with two hits each as Bridgewater State actually out-hit their counterparts 8-5 in the second game. Bettencourt also had three trips on base, reaching once on a miscue and on two of the three walks that Rich permitted.

Both squads will play again tomorrow. Worcester State takes on Brandeis in a twinbill at noon while the Bears entertain Westfield State in a makeup from Wednesday's snowstorm that postponed their regularly scheduled MASCAC doubleheader.

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