Worcester State 1, Anna Maria 0
Paxton, MA --– Sophomore Michaela Mahoney
(Shrewsbury, MA) hurled a complete-game shutout to lift the
Worcester State College softball team to a 1-0 victory over Anna
Maria College in a classic pitcher’s duel on a rainy Thursday
afternoon. With the win, the Lancers improve their season record to
2-8-1, while the loss drops the AMCATS to 1-12 on the year.
Sophomore Dominique Marchand (Mendon, MA) paced the AMCATS with a
game-high two hits in three at bats, while sophomores Sarah Boyda
(Oxford, MA) and Jill Hurley (Worcester, MA) each went 1-3 on the
day. Sophomore Nicole Hackenson (Mendon, Mass.) took the tough luck
loss for AMC after allowing just one unearned run on only one hit
over five strong innings of work, striking out five batters in the
process.
Mahoney was the star of the game for the Lancers as she struck out
six batters over seven shutout innings to capture the win. Mahoney
allowed just four hits in the game and didn’t surrender a
single walk. Sophomore Kaitlyn Laflash
(Northbridge, MA) went 1-3 and scored the lone run of the game for
the Lancers, while senior Ashley Nye (Marion, MA)
and junior Maura Crossman (Colrain, MA) each
collected one hit apiece.
After two hitless innings to begin the game, Laflash led off the
top of third for the Lancers with a base hit up the middle. After a
sacrifice bunt by junior Kara Sztuka (Webster, MA)
moved Laflash into scoring position, a ground ball to the right
side by freshman Lauren Besozzi (Milford, MA)
advanced her to third. Laflash would come home on the very next
play, as a costly AMC error allowed the go-ahead run to score.
Worcester State threatened again in the top of the fifth when AMC
starter Nicole Hackenson began to lose her command. After striking
out the first two batters of the inning, Hackenson loaded the bases
on a hit-batsman and two walks. The AMCATS would escape the inning
unscaved after shortstop Becky Mercurio (Worcester, MA.) stabbed a
ringing line drive off the bat of WSC catcher Ashley Nye to end the
rally.
The AMCATS threatened several times but couldn’t come up
with the big hit. AMC would strand runners in the fourth, fifth,
sixth, and seventh innings before finally falling, 1-0.
The Lancers will play again Wednesday on the road versus Elms
College at 4:00 pm. The AMCATS will be back in action this
Saturday, traveling to take on Salve Regina in a The Commonwealth
Coast Conference doubleheader starting at 12:00 pm.
Release Courtesy of Anna Maria Sports Information