2010 MASCAC Softball All-Conference Team
Buzzards Bay, MA --- Junior southpaw Michaella Mahoney and sophomore shortstop Erica Cordio have each received a nod to the All-MASCAC second team in a vote by league coaches earlier this week. Both were instrumental in helping the Lancers reach their first MASCAC Tournament since 2004 and earn their first winning season since 2002.
Mahoney, who hails from Shrewsbury, MA, picked up her second-straight second team all-conference accolade. This season Mahoney posted a 13-8 record, a 1.48 earned runs average with 114 strikeouts in 132.2 innings pitched. She also notched 16 complete games in 17 starts with six shutouts and two saves.
In MASCAC play, Mahoney recorded a 7-3 record and a 2.52 ERA as she fanned 51 in 61 innings. Mahoney picked two of those wins in relief as she did not allow a run in a come-from-behind 4-3 triumph over Westfield and in a 8-6 eight-inning victory against Fitchburg State. She also tallied a save in a pair of scoreless innings in a 4-2 win over MCLA.
As of the final week of the regular season, Mahoney led the MASCAC in ERA while she tied for the league lead in shutouts and complete games. She is second in innings, opposing batting average (.194) and third in punchouts. Mahoney has helped lead a rotation that is 37th in the NCAA Division III in ERA (1.99) and fifth in New England. Individually, Mahoney's ERA is 40th nationally as her strikeouts are 90th overall.
Mahoney also batted .391 with five homers, 22 RBIs and 16 runs scored as the team's cleanup hitter. She led the conference in homers while she was second in slugging (.641), sixth in on base percentage (.472) and eighth both in runs batted in and total bases (59).
Cordio, a product of Leominster, MA, transferred last season from the University of Rhode Island. Cordio, who has propelled the squad as the team's leadoff hitter, is batting .440 with three homers, three triples, 12 doubles, 21 RBIs and 26 runs scored. Cordio has also slugged .672 with an on base percentage of .500.
Cordio leads the MASCAC in hits (51), total bases (78) and slugging while her batting average, on base percentage and doubles are second.
Cordio has also been influential in helping the Worcester State lead the MASCAC in fielding percentage as they went from fifth last season (.936) to first (.960). The Lancers are 65th in Division III as a team 9th in New England.
The Blue and Gold are coached by second-year head coach Jen Kapenas. The third-seeded Lancers will head to #2 Salem State on Thursday for a 5 PM first pitch in the first round of the MASCAC Tournament. WSC looks for revenge as they were swept 3-2 and 3-0 in their last meeting against the Vikings on April 21.
Both teams will travel to Westfield State for the winner/loser bracket game in the semifinal round. The championship stays at Westfield on Sunday.