Providence, RI --- Worcester State defeated Husson, 10-2, in six innings, in the losers bracket game five at the Providence Regional of the 2011 NCAA Div. III Softball Championship played at Rhode Island College's Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex.
In the triumph, the Blue and Gold earned their first-ever NCAA Tournament win in four attempts. WSU lost yesterday and they were defeated twice in a best-of-three series against Eastern Connecticut in their only other tournament appearance in 1987.
The Lancers (29-10) will play nationally ranked Coast Guard in an elimination game on Saturday at 12 PM. Husson (25-18), which lost yesterday to Eastern Connecticut, 7-0, is ousted from the tournament and completes its season.
Worcester State sophomore Hannah Everson (Methuen, MA) earned the win to improve her record to 10-3 as she allowed two runs on eight hits, while striking out three. It was Everson's first apperance in the circle since April 28 when she earned the win in relief in a 8-3 victory over Anna Maria.
Junior Ashley Howe (Winchendon, MA) also went 3-for-4 with a run scored, three RBI and two doubles.
Husson struck first in the top of the second inning as sophomore Lona Sargent (Sullivan, ME) reached on an infield single to shortstop and promptly stole second. With one down, freshman Kelly Naegelin (Cohasset, MA) lined a hard shot to third base for another infield single and Sargent moved up to third.
Sophomore Kara Poirier (Berlin, NH) laid down a squeeze bunt in front of the plate that brought in Sargent to put the Eagles up, 1-0. Everson settled down to get a pair of pop outs to end the threat.
Worcester State stormed right back with seven runs in the third to put the game away.
Senior Michaella Mahoney (Shrewsbury, MA) led off with a double on a deep drive to the right center field wall. Everson hit a bloop fly that landed behind third base in front of the oncoming left fielder to put runners on first and second.
Sophomore Alex Kerr (Franklin, MA) cleared the bases and gave WSU the lead, 2-1, with a two-run double to the gap in right center. After Husson sophomore Kody Lyon (Dalton, NH) forced a flyout, the Lancers were able to add to their lead on a strange play. Junior Jaime Jacobs (Billerica, MA) laid down a sacrifice bunt and was thrown out at first. While running through the bag, Jacobs collided with Husson junior Amanda Gifford (Lee, ME), which allowed Kerr to score while both players were on the ground.
After two consecutive singles, Howe cleared the bases with a two-run double to left center field and chased Lyon from the game. Freshman Rebecca McCarty (Skowhegan, ME) came in, but the Lancers continued to tack on runs. Howe eventually scored on a wild pitch and Mahoney ended the outburst with an RBI single. All in all, WSU plated seven runs on seven hits in the pivotal frame.
Worcester State added to its advantage in the fourth. Freshman Carolyn Hassett (Charlton, MA) reached on a leadoff single to second base, and after a flyout, Howe crushed a double to left center field to make the score, 8-1.
The Eagles put one back on the board in the fifth when sophomore Courtney Hill (Calais, ME) reached on a bunt single, stole second and scored on senior Dottie Cameron's (South Plainfield, NJ) single to left field.
Lancers junior Erica Cordio (Leominster, MA) smacked an RBI single and then scored on an error after a Howe single to end the game in the sixth.
Cordio went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Mahoney chipped in with a 3-for-3 performance. Cameron went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI for the Eagles.
Lyon was dealt loss as her record drops to 11-11 overall.
Release Courtesy of Rhode Island College Sports Information