BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The visiting Worcester State University softball team swept Bridgewater State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Park. The Lancers improve to 5-8 overall and 3-1 league play. Bridgewater State dips to 7-13 overall and 1-3 in conference play.
GAME ONE: Worcester State 7, Bridgewater State 5
In the opener, Worcester State rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh inning to come away with the 7-5 victory.
The Bears pushed across three runs in the third inning to take a 3-0 lead. A suicide squeeze bunt by Alexandra Ruprecht (Kingston, Mass.) plated Kacie Cavalho (Fairhaven, Mass.) with the first run of the frame while a two-run double by Shannon Grindle (Halifax, Mass.) made it a 3-0 game.
The Lancers took a 4-3 lead with a four-run fifth on a two-run single by Becky Brandeberry (Phillipston, Mass.) and a two-run homer off the bat of Olivia Larson (Marlborough, Mass.). The home run marked the first of Larson's collegiate career.
The Bears reclaimed the lead in the sixth, 5-4, on a Courtney Gouveia (Taunton, Mass.) RBI double and an RBI single by Madison Synan (Quincy, Mass.).
In the decisive top of the seventh, the Lancers took advantage of a key BSU to score three unearned runs. Branbeberry tied the game with an RBI single and Katie Polselli (Charlton, Mass.) followed with a two-run double.
- Kaitlyn Shaw (Lakeville, Mass.) suffered the loss in relief for Bridgewater State. Shaw allowed three unearned runs on three hits over two innings with a pair of strikeouts. Mackenzie Holt (Gilroy, Calif.) worked the first five innings and gave up four runs on six hits with five walks.
- Dakota Smith-Porter (Montague, Mass.) picked up the win in the circle for the Lancers in the complete-game effort. Smith-Porter (2-4) allowed five runs (three earned) on 11 hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
- Brandeberry went 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBI to highlight the Lancers' nine-hit attack, while Polselli was 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, a walk and two RBI.
- Gouveia went 2-for-3 with a double, a run and an RBI to lead the way for Bridgewater State, while Cavalho singled twice in four at bats and scored two run. Grindle went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and two RBI.
GAME TWO: Worcester State 7, Bridgewater State 5
The Lancers rallied again in the top of the seventh inning, this time scoring four runs, to complete the sweep with another 7-5 win.
After Sydney Despres (Sterling, Mass.) homered in the top of the first, the Bears answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning on a bases loaded walk to Synan and an RBI single by Jenny Heller (Taunton, Mass.). An RBI single by Ruprecht in the second and a two-run single off the bat of Gouveia in the third staked BSU to a 5-1 lead.
Kaiulani Ennis (Swansea, Mass.) doubled home a run in the top of the fifth and came around to score on Lynch's RBI single to cut the deficit to 5-3.
The Lancers then strung together five hits in the decisive seventh inning to plate four runs. Despres, Smith-Porter and Brandeberry all rapped RBI hits in the frame while the final run came across on an RBI ground out.
- Despres led Worcester State to victory as she went 4-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.
- Ennis went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and an RBI, while Brandeberry (2-for-4, RBI) and Ashley Lynch (Shrewsbury, Mass.) also finished with two hits apiece. Lynch singled twice, scored a run and drove in one.
- The Lancers banged out 13 hits in the game.
- Rachel Frisch (Worcester, Mass.) tossed 5 1/3 innings of relief to pick up her first win of the season. Frisch (1-3) allowed two runs on six hits with a walk.
- Ruprecht led the Bears' ten-hit attack with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate. She also drove in a run.
- Heller went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Grindle (1-for-2, 2 BB, run) and Synan (1-for-2, 2 BB, RBI) both reached safely in three out of four plate appearances.
- Deianeira Underhill (Rochester, Mass.) was tagged with the loss in relief for Bridgewater State as she gave up four runs on six hits in 2 1/3 innings of work. Shaw got the start for Bears and allowed three runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.
UP NEXT
The Lancers will travel to WPI on Tuesday (Apr. 10) for a cross-town doubleheader, starting at 4 pm.
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Release Courtesy of Bridgewater State Sports Information