Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Lancers (13-8, 3-1 MASCAC) faced off against the defending conference champions Framingham State Rams (10-10, 5-1 MASCAC) for a pivotal regular season matchup that could determine playoff seeding.
GAME 1 FINAL: FRAMINGHAM ST. 7 | WORCESTER ST. 5
GAME 2 FINAL: FRAMINGHAM ST. 9 | WORCESTER ST. 1
HOW IT HAPPENED?:
GAME 1:
The first game of the doubleheader featured Lancers senior Emily Bartlett (Lowell, MA) and Rams Caroline Hughes.
The Lancers struck first in this one in the second inning as sophomore second basemen Morgan Keefe (Dracut, MA) led off with a single that was followed by a double to right field by sophomore Bella Gasbarro (Leominster, MA) placing both players in scoring position. Sophomore centerfielder Bailey Tammaro (Fitchburg, MA) at the plate grounded one right back to Framingham St. pitcher who made an error on a throw that got past the first baseman ending up in right field, bringing home Keefe and Gasbarro giving the Lancers a 2-0 lead. Shortstop junior Emma Lanpher scored Tamarro on an infield single, giving the Lancers a 3-0 lead in the inning. Lanpher was then forced out at second on a fielder choice on a hit from sophomore Emma Lapoint. At the plate, pitcher and designated player Emily Bartlett smoked a double to left field to bring in Lapoint to give Worcester a 4-0 lead.
It took to the fourth inning for the Rams to tag Bartlett as Kelsey McGuill launched a homerun to centerfield, her fourth on the season. It wouldn't take long for Lancers to answer as Emma Lanpher found herself at the plate reaching on an error, winding up on third base. A pitch squeaked past Framingham catcher for a passed ball to score Lanpher and put Worcester up 5-1.
The Rams opened it up in the sixth inning, scoring six runs to take a 7-5 lead, completing an impressive comeback in this pivotal matchup. Framingham's Brooke Gracia singled to left, advancing to second on a passed ball, eventually ending up on third on another passed ball. McGuill up to bat after her homerun forced a walk, the final ball of the at-bat turning into a passed ball that scored Gracia. Shelby Roode followed with a single, getting McGuill to third base. Marina Cadena flew out to leftfield, scoring McGuill. Eliza Carignan continued the inning for the Rams with a single, placing pinch runner Haley Jensen on second. Taila Duca singled to center, scoring Jensen and advancing Carignan to second. Gwendolyn Carpenter doubled scoring both Duca and Carignan that would end Bartlett's day on the mound with first-year pitcher Taylor Coonan (Grafton, MA) coming in for relief. Coonan's first batter Makayla Rooney singled to bring Carpenter to third. Both runners advanced on a passed ball, bringing Carpenter home to bring the score to 7-5 Framingham St. Coonan eventually stopped the bleeding by getting Gracia to line out to right field for the final out.
Junior catcher Abigail Koziol (Lunenburg, MA) doubled in the bottom of the seventh, coach Kerri Bianchini called on Carissa Andrews (Medford, MA) to pinch run at second. Andrews advanced to third on a fielder's choice as the tying run Bella Gasbarro was at the plate. Gasbarro lined out to shortstop to end the game and any chance of a Lancer comeback.
GAME 2:
The second game of this matchup featured a pitching matchup between Lancers junior Sarah Gosselin (Charlton, MA) and Framingham's Ally Moran.
The Lancers once again struck first in game two. Morgan Keefe singled to right field which was followed by a Jayden Kelly (Tyngsboro, MA) walk. First-year Cali Brouillard (Millbury, MA) singled to score Keefe and give her team a 1-0 lead.
The Rams responded with two runs of their own in the next half inning to take a run lead. Victoria Connelly doubled to left, putting herself into scoring position. Gwendolyn Carpenter slapped a triple to center, scoring Connelly. The next batter Makayla Rooney flew out to left field for a sacrifice, gaining an RBI as Rooney crossed the plate to take the 2-1 lead.
The Rams once again had a massive inning in this second game scoring three runs in the top of the fourth. Shelby Roode singled to left, being thrown out at second on a fielder's choice on contact by Marina Cadena who was able to advance on a passed ball. Carignan walked which led to a bases-loaded situation on an error from Keefe. Connelly singled to shortstop scoring the runners on second and third. That would end Gosselin's day on the mound with first-year Peyton Maloney being called on for relief. Carpenter squeezed one more run in as the Ram singled to left to score Duca.
Kate McGuill followed her game one performance by launching a two-run home run into dead center again after a Grassia single down the right field line to widen Framingham St. lead to 7-1.
In the top of the sixth the Ram's put more insurance runs on the board. Connelly began the inning with a single up the middle. Carpenter followed with a double to left field, advancing Connelly to third. Both runners advanced into scoring position on a passed ball furthering the Rams lead to 8-1. Gracia put the finishing touches on Worcester with a sac fly to centerfield scoring Carpenter effectively ending the game by mercy as Worcester wasn't able to score in the bottom of the inning.
WHAT'S NEXT?:
With the losses, the Lancers fall to (13-10, 3-3 MASCAC) as their next game will be a doubleheader on Monday, April 15th with a scheduled start time of 12 PM and 2 PM for a conference matchup against the Fitchburg State Falcons. This game will feature the team's senior day as Emily Bartlett and Lauren Dube will be honored.