Framingham, MA --- Sophomore Rachel Couto (Chelmsford, MA) launched a three-run homer to help give Worcester State a 4-1 victory in the opener and she tallied three hits in the nightcap before falling to Framingham State, 6-4, in MASCAC softball action at the Maple Street Field.

With the win and the loss, the Lancers are now 16-8 (6-2 MASCAC) while the Rams are 11-15 and 5-5 against league opponents.

Couto snapped a scoreless game when she notched her second homer of the campaign in the top of the fourth inning for the early 3-0 advantage.

Worcester State tacked on one more score in the top of the sixth as Couto plated junior Sara Pelletier (Leominster, MA) with a sacrifice fly.

Framingham State broke the shutout in the bottom of the sixth with their lone run of the contest on an RBI single by freshman Anna Dziok (Southampton, MA).

Junior Meghan Rich (Chelmsford, MA) was effective in her sixth complete game of the season. Rich (10-1) allowed one earned run while scattering seven hits and she rung up four on strikes.  

Pelletier along with senior Katie Storro (Leominster, MA) and junior Hayley Terry (N. Dighton, MA) all pounded out two hits each to help WSU lead in the category, 8-7.

After Framingham State scored five times over the first two frames in the second game, Worcester State responded with three trips to home plate in the top of the fourth.

Freshman Samantha Rivers (Leicester, MA) and senior Taylor Hanley (Wilmington, MA) both drove in runs while Couto crossed the dish on a misplayed ball by the catcher, when she moved into scoring position on a passed ball.

Couto made the score 5-4 in the top of the fifth as she plated Terry, who led off the stanza by reaching on a three-bagger.  

But Framingham State added some insurance in the top of the sixth on a deep fly ball to score a solo run by Dziok.

Junior Natasha Arseanau (Waltham, MA) picked up the victory in relief by closing the door with a scoreless seventh. Arseneau (6-8) actually had a win and a loss on the afternoon as she suffered the setback, going the distance in the opener.

Sophomore Mary McKeown (Shrewsbury, MA) absorbed the defeat in the nightcap. Her record dropped to 2-1. Junior Marissa Avanzato (Pittsfield, MA) hurled six innings of effective relief, giving up three runs (two earned) on eight hits and she struck out two.

Hits were even (9-9) while Terry chipped in two more base-knocks in the finale.

Both squads continue MASCAC play on Monday at high noon. Worcester State hosts Salem State while Framingham State heads to Mass Maritime.

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