CLERMONT, Fla. – The Worcester State University softball team gave up eight runs on 10 hits and three Lancer errors in the opening game of Tuesday play against Grinnell College. The second game against Bowdoin started, but was cancelled mid-way through the game due to a tornado warning in the area.
THE BASICS
March 20, 2018
Legends Way Field #5
Score: Grinnell 8, Worcester State 1
Records: Grinnell (3-2) | Worcester State (0-5)
PLAY-BY-PLAY
Following a scoreless first inning, Grinnell reached the scoreboard in the top of the second inning when they scored two runs on two hits. With one out on the board, Mikyla Murphy (St. Joseph, Mo.) came up and doubled to left center. Andi Leff (Cherry Hill, N.J.) came up next and singled through the right side and advanced to second on a throw. Melissa Anderson (Waukegan, Ill.) plated the Pioneers' first run of the game on a sacrifice fly, and then Leff added in another as she scored on a wild pitch.
The Pioneers tacked on five runs in the top of the fourth inning as they registered four hits and the Lancers committed an error. Kayla Morrissey (Burr Ridge, Ill.) plated the third run on an RBI double, Leila Bishop Parise (Reno, Nev.) had an RBI single to score Anderson. Up next, Darice Wheeler (Evanston, Ill.) hit a 3-run home run to centerfield which advanced the score to 7-0, Pioneers.
Worcester State broke through the nil score in the bottom of the fourth when Kaiulani Ennis (Swansea, Mass.) hit home Sydney Despres (Sterling, Mass.) on a sacrifice fly.
The Pioneers added another run in the top of the fifth on an RBI double from Ashley Wehrenberg (Sacramento, Calif.) for the 8-1 final score.
BY THE BOOK
- Grinnell's Leff led in batting, as she went 3-for-4 with three runs.
- The Pioneers' seven other hits were scattered amongst seven players.
- Wheeler led in RBI with three, an also earned the win in the circle as she pitched a complete game and allowed just one run on five Lancer hits.
- Worcester State's Despres led with two hits, while Kristen Huston (Spencer, Mass.), Dakota Smith-Porter (Montague, Mass.), and Becky Brandeberry (Phillipston, Mass.) accounted for the others.
- Smith-Porter was the starting pitcher for the Blue and Gold and was tagged with the loss in 3 1/3 innings pitched.
- Relief pitcher, Rachel Frisch (Worcester, Mass.) came in during the fourth inning and allowed just one run on two hits and struck out six batters.
UP NEXT
The Lancers will break tomorrow and return to Legends Way on Thursday (Mar. 22) to face SUNY-New Paltz and Buffalo State at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.
SOCIALIZE
Follow Worcester State Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube