WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester State University softball team collected two wins against the Cougars of Clark University in a cross-town doubleheader matchup at O'Brian Field on Tuesday afternoon.
THE BASICS
April 17, 2018
O'Brian Field
Records: Worcester State (12-9) | Clark (6-20)
GAME ONE: Worcester State 16, Clark 7 – 5 inn.
The Worcester State University softball team cruised to a 16-7 five-inning victory over Clark as the Lancers' Dakota Smith-Porter (Montague, Mass.) batted 3-for-3 with two runs scored, two home runs, and a career-high seven RBI.
The Lancers drove in three runs to start the game on an RBI double from Sydney Despres (Sterling, Mass.) who also batted 3-for-3 on the day. Two more runs came in on a Smith-Porter single through the right side for a 3-0 gain.
Worcester State added to their lead in the top of the third when Smith-Porter started the inning with a two-run homer. Two more runs scored on RBI from Katie Polselli (Charlton, Mass.) and Sam Maglione (Lancaster, Mass.) while two more scored on Clark fielding errors to lead 9-0.
Becky Brandeberry (Phillipston, Mass.) plated a run in the top of the fourth on a sac fly before Clark scored five runs in the flip side of the inning on seven hits and one Lancer fielding error.
The Lancers ended the game in the top of the fifth when they amassed another six runs on four hits and two Cougar errors. Smith-Porter hit her second homer of the game to drive in three runs. Maglione, Alyssa Monti (Marlborough, Mass.), and Despres had the other RBI in the inning.
- Smith-Porter batted 3-for-3 with two runs scored and a career-high seven RBI.
- Despres batted 3-for-3 with a walk, two doubles four runs scored, and two RBI.
- Monti went 2-for-3 from the plate with a walk, an RBI and three runs scored.
- Clark's nine-hit attack was led by Hanna Genell (Ambler, Penn.) and Taylor Erickson (Natick, Mass.) who each registered two hits on the day.
- Carly Zielinski (Monson, Mass.) earned the win in the circle as she pitched four innings and allowed five runs (one unearned) on eight hits.
- Clark's Erickson took the loss in two innings pitched.
GAME TWO: Worcester State 7, Clark 3
Six Lancers had two hits in game two, as the team totaled seven runs on a 15-hit attack to seal the 7-3 win for the sweep in the second game of the affair.
The Lancers reached the board in the top of the first on a solo shot from Despres.
Clark took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the third inning when Leah Bodin (Andover, Vt.) hit an RBI single to tie the game, and then the Cougars scored two runs on Lancer errors for the 3-1 lead.
The Blue and Gold took back the lead in the top of the fourth inning when Kaiulani Ennis (Swansea, Mass.) hit a three-run homer to plate her, Monica Ferrazzani (North Reading, Mass.) and Brandeberry for the 4-3 score.
The fifth inning was highlighted by a Kaci Panarelli (Shrewsbury, Mass.) homer, and the Lancers added to it in the sixth when she hit in another run on a single to left center.
- Worcester State's junior pitcher, Rachel Frisch (Worcester, Mass.) earned her fourth win of the season as she pitched a complete-game and allowed three runs (two unearned) on three hits. She struck out six at the plate.
- Ennis, Ashley Lynch (Shrewsbury, Mass.), Despres, Smith-Porter, Panarelli, and Polselli each had two hits in game two.
- Ennis led the team with three RBI while Despres scored a team-high two runs in the win.
- Clark's offense was held to just three hits from Bodin, Jessica Urella (North Grafton, Mass.), and Kelsey Joyce (Leominster, Mass.).
- Isaballa DiOrio (Lincoln, R.I.) was tabbed the loss as she pitched a complete-game and allowed all seven runs.
UP NEXT
The softball team returns home on Saturday (Apr. 21) to host MCLA in a MASCAC doubleheader, starting at 12 noon.
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