WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester State University softball team extended its winning streak to seven as they defeated Rhode Island College by scores of 8-7 and 9-5 in a non-conference twinbill at Rockwood Park Thursday evening.
THE BASICS
April 12, 2018
Rockwood Park
Records: Worcester State (9-8) | RIC (6-10)
GAME ONE: Worcester State 8, Rhode Island College 7
Worcester State scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to charge back and down the Anchorwomen by a score of 8-7 in the opening game of the twinbill.
Rhode Island College started the scoring early as leadoff batter Nicole Venturini (North Scituate, R.I.) belted a home run to left field for the 1-0 gain.
In the bottom of the first inning Ashley Lynch (Shrewsbury, Mass.) sent home Kaiulani Ennis (Swansea, Mass.) on an RBI single to right center to knot the score at 1-1.
The visitors took the lead once again in the top of the second as they scored two runs on an RBI double from Crisitin Chiaverini (Pawtucket, R.I,), following a single by Michaela DeAngelis (North Providence, R.I.). Another run scored on an RBI from Shaelyn DaSilveira (Seekonk, Mass.). The Anchorwomen led 3-1.
Rhode Island built on their lead in the fifth and sixth as they plated two runs in each inning for a 7-1 lead. Briana Gough (West Warwick, R.I.) and Kelsey Wood (North Dighton, Mass.) drove in the runs in the fifth, while Emma Simmons (Saunderstown, R.I.) and a Worcester State error sent two in in the sixth.
Worcester State overcame the 6-run deficit and powered through with a monstrous seven runs in the bottom of the sixth to take an 8-7 lead. Ennis started the inning with a double to right center, and then Lynch reached on a single up the middle and stole second to put runners in scoring position for senior Sydney Despres (Sterling, Mass.). Despres did just that and doubled to left field to plate two runs. After Dakota Smith-Porter (Montague, Mass.) drew a walk the Lancers struck again when Becky Brandeberry (Phillipston, Mass.) singled through the second base gap and brought, home Despres. Katie Polselli (Charlton, Mass.) continued the rally as she brought home Smith-Porter and loaded the bases in the process. Haley Scola (Worcester, Mass.) got in on the action hitting into a groundout but bring in Brandeberry. On the next at bat, Ennis reached on an error which sent in the game-tying and game-winning runs from Monica Ferrazzani (North Reading, Mass.) and Samantha Stake (Worcester, Mass.), respectively.
- Worcester State's Lynch led the Lancers offensively, going 3-for-4 with one RBI.
- Ennis batted 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Despres was the RBI leader with two. Each Ennis and Despres hit doubles in the win.
- Rhode Island College's Simmons batted 3-for-3 with one run scored and one walk. She swiped two bases from the Lancers.
- Venturini went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI off her solo homer in the first.
- The Anchorwomen totaled 10 hits in comparison to Worcester State's eight.
- Rachel Frisch (Worcester, Mass.) picked up the win, coming into the game in relief of Carly Zielinski (Monson, Mass.). Frisch pitched 2 1/3 innings and allowed two hits and two walks with three strikeouts.
- Rhode Island College's relief pitcher, Gough, suffered the loss in just one inning pitched.
- Worcester State left three runners on base, while Rhode Island left eight.
GAME TWO: Worcester State 9, Rhode Island College 5
Worcester State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI sacrifice fly from Smith-Porter and an RBI double from Brandeberry.
Rhode Island College came storming back in the top of the third on an RBI single from Simmons, and a 2-RBI single from Wood for a 3-2 gain.
The Lancers responded with four runs on four hits in the reverse side of the inning and did not look back. Smith-Porter sent home Despres on a single to left center, and then after Brandeberry reached on a fielding error, Kaci Panarelli (Shrewsbury, Mass.) blasted a homer to left field for three runs, making it a 6-3 ballgame.
The Anchorwomen tallied two runs in the fifth on RBI from Wood, but Polselli earned those two runs back for Worcester State in the flip side of the inning on a 2-run homer to centerfield.
Worcester State tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth on an error to set the score to 9-5.
Rhode Island College enticed a comeback in the top of the seventh as they loaded the bases on two walks and a DeAngelis single, but Worcester State's relief pitcher, Frisch, struck out the last batter to preserve the 9-5 win.
- Worcester State's nine runs were scored on nine hits and five Anchorwomen fielding errors, while Rhode Island College registered their five runs on 10 hits and two Lancer errors.
- Polselli batted 3-for-3 with a home run, one run scored, and two RBI.
- Panarelli was the team-leader in RBI with three off her homer in the third inning. She scored two runs and also hit a double on the evening.
- Rhode Island College's Simmons, Wood, and DeAngelis each had two hits in game two. Wood led with a game-high four RBI.
- The Anchorwomen left 10 base runners stranded, in comparison to Worcester who left six.
- Worcester State's Smith-Porter took the win in three innings pitched, while Frisch took the save.
- Gough took her second loss of the day in 2 1/3 innings pitched.
UP NEXT
Worcester State hosts Framingham State on Saturday (Apr. 14) in a MASCAC doubleheader, starting at 12 noon. RIC also resumes play then with a conference doubleheader against Southern Maine, starting at 1 p.m.
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