WORCESTER, Mass.—The Worcester State softball team swept Framingham State in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader this afternoon at Rockwood Park. The Lancers won the first game 7-3 and came from behind in the second game, winning 9-3.
With the pair of wins, the Lancers improve to 14-17-1 overall and 6-2 in the conference. The Rams' record falls to 9-22 overall and 2-6 in MASCAC.
GAME ONE: Worcester State 7, Framingham State 3
The Lancers took the lead in the first inning when Courtney Salisbury (Cranston, RI) started the hitting with a double to left center. Teammate Dakota Smith-Porter (Montague, Mass.) reached on a fielder's choice, plating Salisbury for the 1-0 lead. The Lancers plated another run on an RBI single from Sara Pelletier (Leominster, Mass.), and then the Rams' defense committed an error with two outs, allowing two more Lancer runs to cross home. The Lancers left the first inning with a 4-0 advantage.
Framingham State got on the board in the top of the fourth inning when Tiffanie Marsh (Tewksbury, Mass.) singled to right field and advanced to third on a fielding error. She was later batted in by teammate Lauren Salisbury (Cranston, RI), from where Bridget McGrail (Worcester, Mass.) scored Salisbury on an RBI-double, marking the score at 5-2 in the top of the fourth inning.
The Lancers secured their lead scoring two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, leaving the Rams behind 7-3 at the end of the first game.
Offensively for the Lancers, C. Salisbury went 3-for-4 with two doubles. Sydney Despres (Sterling, Mass.) went 2-for-3 while teammate Smith-Porter went 2-for-4 with a double.
The Rams were led by Marsh who went 3-for-4 and Anna Dziok (Southampton, Mass.) who went 2-for-4. McGrail, Dziok, and L. Salisbury each pitched in an RBI apiece for the Rams.
Worcester State's pitcher, Meghan Rich (Chelmsford, Mass.), earned the win pitching all seven innings, allowing nine hits, and striking out four. With the win, Rich's record improves to 4-5. Natasha Arseneau (Waltham, Mass.) suffers the loss pitching five innings and allowing 11 hits and only one walk. With the loss, Arseneau's record falls to 4-3.
GAME TWO: Worcester State 9, Framingham State 3
After being defeated by the Lancers in game one, the Rams started out strong scoring one run in the top of the first as Megan Downing (Hanson Mass.) hit the fourth consecutive single to score Marissa Flynn (Marlborough Mass.) at the plate. The Lancers answered right back in the bottom of the first when Hayley Terry (N. Dighton Mass.) came across the plate after Taylor Daniels (Norco CA.) reached first on an error.
Framingham State took their lead back in the top of the second, when Tiffanie Marsh (Tewksbury Mass.) hit a single through the right side for 2 RBI, bringing the score to 3-1. The Lancers returned with one run in the bottom of the 3rd, but it wasn't until the bottom of the 4th that they took their lead back as they scored three runs on four hits and one Ram error (5-3 Lancers).
Worcester's Dakota Smith-Porter (Montague Mass.) smashed a homer into left center in the bottom of the 6th to score three more runs for the Blue and Gold. Terry went 4-for-4 with one RBI and scored three of the Lancers nine runs. For the Rams, Marsh went 3-for-4 with two RBI's.
The battle of the Salisbury sisters ended equally, as Lauren Salisbury (Cranston RI.) registered two hits on the campaign for the Rams while Courtney Salisbury (Cranston RI.) recorded two hits for the Lancers.
Lancers' pitcher, Meghan Rich (Chelmsford Mass.) improved to 5-5 on the season, as she relieved Kayla Humphrey (Wallingford Mass.) in the top of the 3rd. For Framingham, Marsh absorbed the loss as she threw five complete innings, allowing eight hits and five runs.
The Lancers return to action taking on Nichols in a non-conference double header Wednesday (Apr. 20) starting at 3:30 p.m. Framingham State also has a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday as they host to Roger Williams for a 3 p.m. start time.