WORCESTER, Mass. - Worcester State (20-17-1, 10-2 MASCAC) completed a doubleheader sweep over Fitchburg State (15-17, 5-7 MASCAC) Wednesday afternoon with great pitching performances from Meghan Rich (Chelmsford, Mass), Kayla Humphrey (Wallingford, Conn) and Marissa Avanzato (Pittsfield, Mass) that resulted in 5-0 and 6-3 victories.
GAME ONE: WORCESTER STATE 5, FITCHBURG STATE 0
The Lancers opened up game one very strong as they scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Hayley Terry (N. Dighton, Mass) opened up the hitting for Worcester with a double to left center and was later driven in by Sydney Despres (Sterling, Mass) with a line drive double over the right fielder's head. Despres was driven in on the very next pitch as Dakota Smith-Porter (Montague, Mass) hit a ground ball right up the middle for the RBI single and gave Worcester the important lead.
The game remained 2-0 until the bottom of the fourth when the blue and gold would once again score two more runs. After a Corrie Derosier (Shrewsbury, Mass) walk and stolen base, Rachel Couto (Chelmsford, Mass) drove her in with a clutch RBI double to right field. Couto later scored on an RBI single to center field by Courtney Salisbury (Cranston, R.I.).
Worcester State would add one more run in the bottom of the fifth on a RBI double to left center by Taylor Daniels (Norco, Calif).
Both Daniels and Despres led the Lancers' offense, both going 2-for-3 with an RBI apiece. Katie Gildea (Bedford, Mass.) led her team offensively, going 2-for-3 with half of her teams' hits.
The loss was handed to Galen Kerr (Concord, Mass.) who is now 8-9 on the season. Kerr allowed five earned run through six innings of work. The winning pitcher was Rich who racked up seven scoreless innings for a shutout and improved to 8-5 on the season.
GAME TWO: WORCESTER STATE 6, FITCHBURG STATE 3
Game two would open the scoring with a two-run blast to straight away center by Despres. The homerun was her 12th of the season and gave the blue and gold a 2-0 advantage. Sara Pelletier (Leominster, Mass) would later add to the score with an RBI single scoring Daniels.
Fitchburg would tie the game up in the top of the third with timely hitting from the bottom and top of the order. Maddie Medina (Pelham, NH) was the first run to cross after an RBI single from Tori Cyrus (Everett, Mass). After the bases became loaded, Emily Comtois (Windham, Mass) hit a two RBI single that would result in both Kelsea LeBlanc (Attleboro, Mass.) and Cyrus crossing home plate.
The Lancers would quickly take the lead back with a three-run fourth inning. A triple by Salisbury would force in the go ahead run and she would later score when Terry reached on an error. The blue and gold would add their sixth run of the game when Porter would receive her second RBI of the day.
The loss was given to Kaylee Sylvestre (Everett, Mass.) who is now 7-6. She allowed four earned runs through six innings of work. The win was awarded to Humphry who improved to 6-2 on the season. Avanzato was awarded the save with three innings of scoreless relief.
The Falcons return to action Thursday (Apr. 28) when they host Fisher College for a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. The blue and gold close out the regular season on Saturday (Apr. 30) at home with a doubleheader against MASCAC rival, MCLA. First pitch for game one is at 12 noon.
Release by Connor Haynes, Sports Information Intern