DARTMOUTH, Mass. – The Worcester State University softball team kicked off New England play with a split at UMass Dartmouth on Thursday (Mar. 30) afternoon.

GAME ONE: Worcester State 4, UMass Dartmouth 3

Despite UMass Dartmouth holding the advantage in hits (10-7), the Worcester State Lancers edged the Corsairs by a score of 4-3 in the first game of the afternoon.

Worcester State hit the board in the first inning when Courtney Salisbury (Cranston, R.I.) scored after reaching on a walk and rounding the bases on a wild pitch, illegal pitch, and a throwing error. The Blue and Gold added to their led in the top of the 2^nd when Rachel Couto (Chelmsford, Mass.) hit an RBI-double, to score Kaci Panarelli (Shrewsbury, Mass.) at the plate.

The Lancers doubled their lead in the top of the 3^rd inning when they scored two runs on three hits. Kaiulani Ennis (Swansea, Mass.) began the inning with a double down the left field line. She then advanced to third when Sydney Despres (Sterling, Mass.) hit another double to left center. Both scored moments later on a sacrifice fly from Kayla Humphrey (Wallingford, Conn.) and a double from Haley Scola (Worcester, Mass.).

UMass Dartmouth spoiled the shutout and cut the Lancers lead in half in the bottom of the 3^rd inning when they scored two runs on three hits from Nicole McSweeney (Bridgewater, Mass.), Maddie O'Gryzek (Norfolk, Mass.), and Emily Colton (Kingston, Mass.).

After neither team scored in the next three innings, the Corsairs had one more chance to come back in the bottom of the 7^th after they shut the Lancers out in the top of the 7^th with a 1-2-3 inning.

In the bottom of the 7^th with one out, the Corsairs loaded the bases for their chance at taking the win. However, they were only able to score one run on a sacrifice fly from Brittany Polk (Bridgewater, Mass.), and then Nicole Vachon (Westport, Mass.) was thrown out trying to tag up and get to third on the same play.

Worcester State's Mary McKeown (Shrewsbury, Mass.) earned the win in the circle in a 7-inning performance. In the outing, McKeown struck out six Corsair batters. UMass Dartmouth's Hannah Smith (Attleboro, Mass.) suffered the loss in a 3-inning performance.

GAME TWO: UMass Dartmouth 4, Worcester State 0

UMass Dartmouth's Hannah Smith (Attleboro, Mass.) came back in the second game to throw a 1-hitter to shutout the Worcester State Lancers 4-0 in a 5-inning game.

The Corsairs scored their four runs on seven hits and one Worcester State error.

They tallied two in the 1^st inning and two more in the bottom of the 4^th. The two RBI in the 1^st inning came from Marissa Spinuzzi (Fair Lawn, N.J.) as she doubled to right center and sent Cierra Sheerin (Bridgewater, Mass.) and Emily Colton (Kingston, Mass.) home. The two innings in the 4^th came in on a triple from Brittany Polk (Bridgewater, Mass.), and a single from Maxine Vincent (Hanson, Mass.).  

The Lancers' sole hit came from Kaiulani Ennis (Swansea, Mass.) in the 1^st inning. Dakota Smith-Porter (Montague, Mass.) took the loss, allowing two runs on two hits in three innings pitched.

Worcester State (3-9) resumes play on Sunday (April 2) when they travel to Mass. Maritime for the conference opening doubleheader, starting at 2 p.m.