WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester State University softball team was crowned the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Tournament Champions on Sunday (May 8) as they swept Bridgewater State in two games. Worcester State's senior pitcher, Meghan Rich (Chelmsford, Mass.) was awarded the tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) award as she listed a sweep in the circle to help her team to the triumph.

Championship Games @ Worcester State University (Rockwood Park)

GAME ONE: WORCESTER STATE 6, BRIDGEWATER STATE 4 (8 INNINGS)

Going into the game with a 2-1 tournament record, the Worcester State Lancers needed to defeat Bridgewater State (who was 1-0 in the tournament) to stay alive in the championship game(s). The Lancers did just that, as they beat the Bears 6-4 in an eight inning game on RBI singles from Courtney Salisbury (Cranston, RI) and Hayley Terry (N. Dighton, Mass.).

The Lancers started the scoring early as they put up three runs in the first inning on a 3-run home run from senior designated player, Taylor Daniels (Norco, Calif.) with two outs on the board. They then added to their lead in the second inning when Rachel Couto (Chelmsford, Mass.) hit her first home run of the season over the left field wall to make it a 4-0 ballgame.

Bridgewater State cut the lead in half in the bottom of the third inning when Tara McCann (Fall River, Mass.) hit a 2-RBI double to score Samantha LoPilato (Medford, Mass.) and Courtney Leddy (Saugus, Mass.) at the plate.

Bridgewater State tied the game up at 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth when McCann started the inning with a double to left field. She then scored on an RBI single from Kacie Carvalho (Fairhaven, Mass.), and then Carvalho scored a run of her own on an RBI from Kristyna Flaherty (Burlington, Mass.).

Each team only allowed one hit in each side of the seventh, in turn, resulting in extra innings.

Worcester State began the eighth inning with back-to-back singles from Sara Pelletier (Leominster, Mass.) and Corrie Derosier (Shrewsbury, Mass.). With two outs on the board and two runners on, the Lancers then managed to score two runs on RBI singles from Salisbury and Terry.

Worcester State's defense was able to hold the Bears from scoring in the bottom half, as three routine popups ended the game at 6-4.  Offensively for the Lancers, Pelletier batted .750 (3-4), while Terry and Derosier batted at the .500 mark.

McCann piloted the Bears going 3-for-4 with three RBI, two doubles, and a run. Leddy, Carvalho, and Morgan Cox (Dennis Port, Mass.) all batted 2-for-4.

Rich registered the win in eight innings pitched, while Kelly McCarthy (Burlington, Mass.) suffered the loss. Each pitcher allotted 12 hits and struck out three and four batters, respectively.

GAME TWO: WORCESTER STATE 14, BRIDGEWATER STATE 1 (5 INNINGS)

After a battle between the No. 1 seeded Lancers and No. 2 seeded Bears in game one, the Lancers took charge of the second game as they scored 14 runs on 17 hits in four innings.

Worcester matched the first game with three runs in the first inning as Sydney Despres (Sterling, Mass.) blasted a home run over left center for two RBI. Moments later, Pelletier marked another RBI on a double to right center.

Bridgewater State came through with a run in the top of the second when Jackie Welch (Hubbardston, Mass.) hit an RBI single to left field to plate Carvalho for what turned out to be, their only run of the game.

Worcester went scoreless in the bottom of the second, although, had two monster innings in the third and fourth, scoring 11 between the two. In the third, Worcester quickly made two outs, from where the Lancers marked five back-to-back hits to score three. The Lancers then reached on an error from where another run crossed the plate. They added in seven more in the bottom of the fourth as the bats kept swinging. The inning included a walk, two singles, two doubles and another home run from Daniels – all with two outs on the board.

Six Worcester State batters batted .500 or above (Salisbury, Terry, Despres, Dakota Smith-Porter, Deroiser, and Couto) against the Bears' pitching staff and included four doubles, two home runs, and 13 RBI. Freshman Monica Ferrazzani (N. Reading, Mass.) and Derosier both recorded stolen bases.

Rich grabbed the win in the circle, pitching five innings and only allowing six hits.

For the Bears, Carvalho and Cox both batted a perfect 2-for-2, while Welch went 1-for-2. Kathleen Bailey (Bayport, NY) suffered the loss in the circle as she opened for the Bears and allowed three runs on five hits. Alexandra Wright (Lakeville, Mass.) came in to pitch in the second inning and allowed 11 runs (one unearned) on 11 hits.

With the MASCAC Tournament Champion title, the Worcester State Lancers will receive an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Regionals to be held next weekend (May 13-15).