FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – The second seeded Westfield State University softball team scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth as the Owls rallied from a one run deficit to secure a 4-2 victory over fourth seeded Worcester State University in an elimination game of the 2017 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Softball Championship Tournament at Maple Street Field.
With the win, Westfield State improves to 18-17 on the year and advances in the tournament to face the loser of the Salem/Framingham game later this afternoon at Maple Street Field in another elimination game.
With the loss, the Lancers close their season at 18-18.
The Lancers grabbed the lead in the top of the fourth inning when they had runners on second and third with no outs. After a strikeout, junior Kaci Panarelli (Shrewsbury, Mass.) followed with a sacrifice fly giving the Lancers a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, junior Angelica Banning (East Granby, Conn.) tied the game with a double to center field. Senior Sydney Ezold (Westfield, Mass.) followed with an RBI single to right and advanced all the way to third on an error in the outfield. Senior Emma Dunbar (Weymouth, Mass.) reached on an infield single scoring Ezold. The Owls loaded the bases and Erika Gouin (Hampden, Mass.) drew a bases loaded walk for the 4-1 lead.
The Lancers added a run in the top of the seventh to reach the final margin. Kristen Huston (Spencer, Mass.) reached on an error and scored on a single down the leftfield line by junior Sydney Despres (Sterling, Mass.).
Sophomore Sarah Eugenio (Marshfield, Mass.) earned the win in the circle for the Owls going seven innings and allowing two unearned runs on six hits with four strikeouts and no walks.
Sophomore Rachel Frisch (Worcester, Mass.) took the loss going three and a third and allowing four runs, two earned, on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
Despres and Rachel Couto (Chelmsford, Mass.) led the Lancers offensively, as they both went 2-for-4 with a double on the occasion.
Release Courtesy of Framingham State Sports Information