- Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Softball team returned to action Saturday afternoon looking to avoid elimination and advance to the MASCAC Championship. The Lancers dropped the opening game of the double elimination tournament yesterday afternoon when they dropped a 3-2 battle in the seventh inning to the Bridgewater State Bears. In a bid to remain in the tournament, Worcester opened up their day versus the Westfield State Owls who lost in a five inning battle the previous day to tournament hosts Framingham State 8-0.
Senior Jen Thorburn (Groton, MA), who graduated today from Worcester State, would be the starting pitcher in the battle. After an initial walk, Thorburn would settle in striking out the next two batters before closing out the top with a forced pop fly to center. First year Amanda Adamuska (Dudley, MA) started things off for the Lancers after a battle at the plate that saw five balls fouled off before a single to third found her in base. Sophomore Emma Lanpher (Charlton, MA) would move her to second with a sacrifice grounder. A following foul pop up would see out number two before a dropped strike three run out at first for sophomore Abigail Koziol (Lunenburg, MA) would see the first inning remain scoreless for both teams.
The second inning saw Westfield threaten as an early runner on base with no outs, before two passed balls moved the runner to third. A ball dropped into the gap of left center would see the first runner of the game home, and the Lancers down 1-0 at the end of the inning as Thorburn and the infield worked a double play to limit the damage. The Lancers were unable to settle the score in the bottom of the inning as three quick fly outs to right field would see the batters go down quickly.
The Lancers zoned in for the third inning, taking down the Owls hitters in just four batters to keep the game close. Senior Naraylee Baez (Northborough, MA), who additionally graduated today, would look to put the Lancers on the board getting on base early and no outs yet recorded. With one out on the board an Adamuska grounder to second would see Baez sent to the dugout but the tying run was still stationed at first. A fly out to center would end the Lancers chances in the inning as the score would remain 1-0.
A deep homer into left field would see Westfield extend their lead to two. After 3.2 innings of work, Thorburn would hand over pitching duties to junior Emily Bartlett (Lowell, MA) who would force the next batter to pop it up to close the inning. Thorburn would wrap up her day allowing only two hits and striking out six.
The top of the fifth saw Westfield add an additional run to the board to extend their lead to three. While the Lancers were able to get a runner on early in the bottom half of the inning, Westfield defense was able to stifle any comeback attempt that was mounted. Bartlett would be lights out in the top of the 6th sending all three batters quickly back to the dugout. Lanpher would look to get something started in the bottom of the inning, after nailed a grounder past third base to put a runner on base with just a single out to note. First year Bella Gasbarro (Leominster, MA) would move Lanpher to second and find herself on first after a single that dropped into center field. After a pop out recorded out number two, things were looking tight for the Lancers until first year Jayden Kelly (Tyngsboro, MA) rocketed a mine drive to center that would bring Lanpher home for Worcester's first run of the game.
Westfield would extend their lead in the top of the seventh as they loaded the bases with two outs on the board. A line drive triple would clear the bases of all but one, but a passed ball two pitches later would allow run number seven to walk across the plate before the Lancers could attempt their comeback. Having been on the receiving end of a bottom seven comeback yesterday, the Lancers were primed for the attempt. First year Morgan Keefe (Dracut, MA) needed just two pitches to find herself on first to start the comeback bid. Baez would fly out in an attempt to get a second runner on, while first year Bailey Tammaro (Fitchburg, MA) would grab out number two swinging. Adamuska would set up in hopes of extending the Lancers opportunities but the Westfield pitches would ultimately be too much for Worcester.
Bartlett would end the day going 3.1 innings allowing just four hits and striking out 6.
Worcester State concluded the 2023 season with a 25-18 record, 9-5 in the MASCAC.