WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester State University softball team picked up their second Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) sweep on Saturday, as they shutout the visiting MCLA Trailblazers 6-0 in the opening game, and scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning in game two to win 8-4 and complete the sweep.
THE BASICS
April 21, 2018
Rockwood Park
Records: Worcester State (14-9, 6-2 MASCAC) | MCLA (6-16, 2-6 MASCAC)
GAME ONE: Worcester State 6, MCLA 0
Worcester State University's senior pitcher Dakota Smith-Porter (Montague, Mass.) shutout the visiting Trailblazers as she pitched a one-hitter and struck out six batters at the plate to open two-game series.
The Lancers put one run on the board in the bottom of the first when Smith-Porter hit home Kaiulani Ennis (Swansea, Mass.) who led off the inning with a single to shortstop.
The Trailblazer's lone hit came in the top of the second with two outs when Ashely Wilson (Haverhill, Mass.) singled to third base. The next batter forced an out at second to get pinch runner Francesca Belli (Watertown, Mass.) out to retire the side.
Worcester State tacked on another run in the bottom of the third on sacrifice fly from Becky Brandeberry (Phillipston, Mass.), and then scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth on a three-RBI triple from Smith-Porter for the 6-0 score.
- Smith-Porter earned her fifth win of the season in the complete-game shutout. She allowed one hit, walked one batter, and struck out six at the plate. She also batted 2-for-4 with a triple and game-high four RBI.
- Worcester State's Sydney Despres (Sterling, Mass.) batted a perfect 2-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored.
- Ennis, Monica Ferrazzani (North Reading, Mass.), and Samantha Stake (Worcester, Mass.) also had two hits each for the Lancers.
- MCLA's Samantha Feinstein (South Yarmouth, Mass.) suffered the loss in the circle as she pitched six innings and allowed six (one unearned) Worcester State runs on 11 hits. She walked three batters and struck out one.
GAME TWO: Worcester State 8, MCLA 4
After MCLA came back and knotted the score at 4-4 in the top of the sixth inning, the Lancers pulled through with four sixth inning runs on RBI from Ennis, Brandeberry, and Kaci Panarelli (Shrewsbury, Mass.) to earn the sweep in an 8-4 final game.
Worcester State scored two runs in the first inning on Smith-Porter's second triple of the day, and another on an error. The Lancers added two more in the bottom of the second on a two-RBI single up the middle from Ashley Lynch (Shrewsbury, Mass.).
MCLA tallied three runs on three hits and one Lancer error in the top of the fourth to make it a 4-3 game. Kara Adams (Walden, N.Y.) started the scoring with an RBI double to right center. Alanza Quinones (North Adams, Mass.) reached on an error which scored Adams, and then Nevada Nelsen (Colonie, N.Y.) sent the third run home on a single to left center.
The Trailblazers made the game interesting in the top of the sixth when tied the score at 4-4 on a Worcester fielding error. Though, Worcester State responded with four runs in the reverse side and shutout the visitors in the top of the seventh to earn the win.
- The Lancers' 12-hit attack was led by Despres who batted 3-for-4 with a double.
- Brandeberry and Kristen Huston (Spencer, Mass.) each had two hits for the Blue and Gold.
- Ennis reached base three times (one hit, two walks), while Smith-Porter, Panarelli, and Stake each reached base twice (once on a hit, and once on a walk).
- MCLA's seven hits were led by Kaitlyn Berghela (Watervilet, N.Y.) and Adams who had two each. Adams led her team with two runs batted in.
- Adams was tabbed the loss in the circle, as she gave up eight runs on 12 hits. She walked five batters, and struck out three.
- Worcester State's relief pitcher, Carly Zielinski (Monson, Mass.) earned the win in 1 2/3 innings pitched. She did not allow the Trailblazers a hit, and struck out one batter. Rachel Frisch (Worcester, Mass.) started for the Lancers and gave up one earned run (three unearned) in 5 1/3 innings pitched.
UP NEXT
Both teams resume MASCAC action tomorrow (Apr. 22). The Lancers head to Salem State for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m., while MCLA hosts Bridgewater State at the same time.
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