WORCESTER, Mass. – Senior Dakota Smith-Porter (Montague, Mass.) connected on a two-run homer in the top of the seventh of game one and finished the night 5-for-7 with an RBI and three runs scored as Worcester State took two from host WPI in a non-conference softball doubleheader on Rooftop Field.
THE BASICS
April 10, 2018
Rooftop Field
Records: Worcester State (7-8) | WPI (17-7)
GAME ONE: Worcester State 5, WPI 4
WPI scored one run in the bottom of the first on an error, and tacked on another in the bottom of the second on an RBI single from Marissa Gonzales (Oakley, Calif.).
Succeeding scoreless third through fifth innings, Worcester State finally reached the board on an RBI from Becky Brandeberry (Phillipston, Mass.) in the top of the sixth.
Worcester State trailed 2-1 heading into the seventh inning. Sophomore Kaiulani Ennis (Swansea, Mass.) tripled in a run before scoring on a hard line drive back to the pitcher by senior Sydney Despres (Sterling, Mass.). Smith-Porter followed with what proved to be the game-winning swing.
- Smith-Porter went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, a pair of RBI and a run scored.
- Despres batted 2-for4 with two runs scored.
- Lancers' freshman Samantha Stake (Worcester, Mass.) swiped a bag for the guests.
- Worcester State's junior Rachel Frisch (Worcester, Mass.) struck out three in the complete-game victory. She allowed four runs (one unearned) on six hits.
- WPI's Nina Murphy-Cook (Roseville, Calif.) batted 2-for-2 with two walks, three stolen bases and two runs scored. Caraline Wood (Averill Park, N.Y.) added two RBI while seniors RiAnna May (Westminster, CO) and Katie Chagami (Waipahu, H.I.), as well as sophomore Cassie Graca (Somerset, Mass.) each stole a base.
- WPI's Senior Kelsey Saucier (Worcester, Mass.) struck out six in six-plus innings before handing the ball to freshman Nicole Kuberka (Los Angeles, Calif.).
GAME TWO: Worcester State 4, WPI 1
Sophomore Kristen Huston (Spencer, Mass.) drew a four-pitch bases-loaded walk for the 1-0 lead in the second.
Ennis scored on a miscue, senior Kaci Panarelli (Shrewsbury, Mass.) walked to push Despres across the dish and junior Katie Polselli (Charlton, Mass.) lifted a sacrifice fly to center as the Lancers increased the advantage to 4-0 in the third.
Graca singled in the final run of the evening with a hit to right in the bottom of the sixth.
- Despres and Smith-Porter each batted 2-for-4 and Ennis walked twice.
- The Lancers' sophomore pitcher Carly Zielinski (Monson, Mass.) went the distance for Worcester State and improves to 3-0 on the season.
- May and Graca led the Engineers with two hits each. Sophomore Leila Camplese (Tewksbury, MA) contributed with a double as Biney and Graca each stole a base.
- Sophomore Mackenzie Phillips (Gill, Mass.) struck out six in five innings of relief.
UP NEXT
The Lancers host Rhode Island College Thursday at 4 p.m.
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Release Courtesy of WPI Sports Information