Bridgewater, MA ---The Worcester State University softball team swept a MASCAC doubleheader over host Bridgewater State University on Friday afternoon at Alumni Park. The visiting Lancers won the first game, 6-3, and completed the sweep with a 2-1 decision in the nightcap.
Worcester improves to 19-9 on the season with the pair of wins as well as 8-2 in the MASCAC. The Lancers are tied atop the conference standings along with Westfield State Bridgewater falls to 11-19 overall and 3-5 in conference play.
In game one, Worcester senior Michaella Mahoney (Shrewsbury, MA) picked up her tenth win of the season in the circle as she went the distance giving up three runs on eight hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.
The Lancers jumped ahead with three runs in the second inning thanks in part to two Bridgewater errors. Junior Erica Cordio (Leominster, MA) had an RBI single in the frame.
After Bridgewater cut the deficit to 3-1 on an runs scoring single by sophomore Melissa Harmon (Shrewsbury, Mass.) in the second, Worcester responded with a solo tally in the top of the third when sophomore Alex Kerr (Franklin, MA) singled and came all the way around from first when junior Lauren Besozzi (Milford, MA) reached on a dropped fly ball.
The Bears made it a 4-2 game in the bottom of the fifth as sophomore Jennifer Shaw (Brockton, MA) walked with two outs and scored on junior Michaela Ferreira's (Fall River, MA) RBI double. The Lancers however answered once again with a run in the next half inning as Mahoney belted her fifth home run of the season.
Trailing 5-2 in the bottom of the sixth, BSU sophomore Brianna Strecker (Waterford, CT) led off with a double, moved to second on a ground out and scored on junior Jordan McDermott's (East Bridgewater, MA) bunt single. Worcester got the run right back and capped off the scoring in the top of the seventh on Cordio's run producing single.
Cordio finished 3-for-5 with a pair of runs batted in. Mahoney, Kerr and sophomore Aimee Lamoureux (East Brookfield, MA) added two hits apiece in game one. McDermott paced the Bears with a 3-for-3 effort.
BSU senior Tracey Sanko (Windsor, CT) suffered the loss in the circle as she gave up five runs (three earned) on eight hits and three walks.
In game two, Bridgewater took a 1-0 lead in the second inning as Shaw doubled to lead off the frame. Sophomore Felicia Wissekerke (Uxbridge, MA), who was called on to run for Shaw, advanced to third on Strecker's bunt single. Wissekerke then scored on the front end of an attempted double steal.
The Bears' 1-0 lead held up until the fourth when Worcester pushed across the tying and go ahead runs. Sophomore pitcher Hannah Everson (Methuen, MA) singled to lead off the frame and scored on Mahoney's RBI double. Mahoney, who advance to third on the throw home, would later score on Besozzi's RBI single.
Everson (7-3) allowed just the one run on four hits with no walks and eight strikeouts to pick up the win in the circle for the Lancers.
BSU sophomore Meghan Dunn (Colchester, CT) also pitched well in the losing effort. Dunn (8-6) gave up two runs on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts.
Bridgewater travels to MASCAC foe Mass. Maritime Academy on Tuesday afternoon (3:30 PM) for a pair of games with the Buccaneers. Worcester heads to Fitchburg on Tuesday (3:00 PM) for a conference twinbill with the Falcons.
Full Release Courtesy of Bridgewater State Sports Information