2015 MASCAC Softball Tournament Bracket
Worcester, MA --- Sophomore Rachel Couto (Chelmsford, MA) drove in the game-winning RBI and classmate Courtney Salisbury (Cranston, RI) went 4-for-4 with a solo home run to help pace top-seeded Worcester State to an 8-7 triumph over #4 Salem State in the quarterfinals of the MASCAC Softball Tournament.
The Lancers (22-13) take on second-seeded MCLA tomorrow at 1:30 in the second game of the semifinals while the Vikings try to stay alive in the tournament by taking on #3 Bridgewater State at 11 AM. All games for the remainder of the double elimination portion of the playoffs will be played at Rockwood Park.
The Trailblazers defeated the Bears, 4-3, in 15 innings earlier this evening in the other quarterfinal matchup.
Salem State erased a 6-0 deficit by plating six unanswered runs over a four stanza stretch to force extra innings.
The Vikings broke up the shutout bid in the top of the fourth on a run scoring double by freshman Desiree Moreno (Ashburnham, MA) and then she crossed the plate on a double steal play.
In the fifth, sophomore Jess Raymond (Peabody, MA) lifted a two-run homer to left and then Moreno made it a 6-5 contest on an RBI ground out.
The score remained the same until the visitors knotted up the game in the top of the seventh.
Freshman Molly McLean (Arlington, MA) started the rally with a single up the middle and she moved to third on another solo knock by senior Jenn Touissant (Reading, MA). Junior Rebecca Krigman (Malden, MA followed with a ground ball to the second baseman who could only convert one out on a potential double play as McLean scampered home for the tying run.
Sophomore Kayla Humphrey (Wallingford, CT) and sophomore Francesca Perrault (Everett, MA) locked into a battle for two scoreless frames until the tenth which brought on the international tie-breaker.
In the bottom of the tenth, Salem State went ahead 7-6 on an RBI single by sophomore Bobbie Dee Regan (Lynn, MA), but Humphrey set down the final two batters to keep the game right where it was.
Salisbury brought in the equalizer on an RBI single up the middle to start off the bottom half of the same inning before Couto ended the contest by lifting a 2-0 pitch right to the gap in left center field.
The Lancers used the long ball to take over the quick 3-0 advantage over the first two innings of play.
Salisbury connected a solo shot to centerfield for her first collegiate homer in the bottom of the first and then freshman Samantha Rivers (Leicester, MA) hammered a two-run blast with one out in the second.
Worcester State took over the 6-0 margin by putting up a three-spot in the bottom of the third. Junior Hayley Terry (N. Dighton, MA) had a sacrifice fly and Couto tacked on two more scores by ripping a two-run double down the left field line.
Perreault (9-6), who was summoned to get out of a jam in the third, held the Lancer bats to just two hits over her next six frames of work. She was tagged with the setback after allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits to go with two walks and two strikeouts.
Humphrey (4-2) earned the victory in relief of junior Meghan Rich (Chelmsford, MA). Humphrey ended the top of the fifth and permitted two runs (one earned), six hits, one walk while she fanned three.
Salem State led in the hitting department, 13-10, as Krigman went 3-for-5 at the plate. Moreno and Raymond had two-base knocks each with two RBI's. Touissant and Regan also contributed a pair of singles for the visitors.
Couto chipped in with a pair of hits and three RBI as Salisbury and junior Sara Pelletier (Leominster, MA) made two trips to home plate.
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