Cape Coral, FL --- Worcester State drew a split on the afternoon with a 6-4 setback against University of New England before they defeated Smith 12-2 in five innings.
In their triumph against Smith, junior Alex Kerr (Franklin, MA) and sophomore Carolyn Hassett (Charlton, MA) both contributed three hits apiece while seniors Erica Cordio (Leominster, MA) and Lauren Besozzi (Milford, MA) along with third-year Aimee Lamoureux (E. Brookfield, MA) chipped in with two base-knocks each.
Cordio drove in four while Besozzi and Lamoureux crossed the plate three times.
Smith went up 1-0 in the bottom of the first when freshman Helen Buse (Nicasico, CA) scored on an error in the infield with runners on the corners.
Worcester State responded by exploding for six runs in top of the second. After senior Jaime Jacobs (Billerica, MA) reached on a walk to start the rally, the Lancers strung together five hits in the next six plate appearances as they were highlighted by a pair of two-run doubles by Cordio and Kerr.
The Pioneers responded by taking advantage of another WSU miscue. The frame was started off by senior Sarah Goodman (Pittsford, NY) who reached on a single. Goodman then advanced to third on an errant throw by the shortstop on a solo base-knock by junior Tessa Clark (Calais, ME). Smith scored when senior Kirstie Beaton (Osterville, MA) then came through with an RBI single.
It was after this play that junior right hander Melissa Beaudry (Worcester, MA/St. Peter-Marian) buckled down in the circle as she would retire nine of her final 11 batters, with a double play to end the game.
Beaudry (1-0) finished giving up two runs (both unearned) with two hits to go along with two walks and a strikeout in the five-inning affair.
The Lancers put the game away with six runs over the contests final three innings. Senior Ashley Howe (Winchendon, MA) had an RBI single in the third, Cordio hammered a two-run double in the fourth and Lamoureux underscored the a three-run fifth with a two-run solo base-hit.
Sophomore Kayla Keirs (West Warwick, RI) was tagged with the loss as she allowed 12 runs (11 earned) on 14 hits as she also walked five and fanned two. Clark was the only multi-hitter for Smith as she ended with a 2-for-3 appearance at the plate.
The University of New England put up single runs in the second and third innings for the early 2-0 advantage.
Worcester State knotted the score 2-2 in the bottom of the third when Jacobs came home on a perfectly excecuted double-steal and on an RBI single by Cordio.
The Noreasters, however, plated four runs in the fifth as they took advantage of the bases loaded when senior Ashley Gott (Winterport, ME) and junior Erin Grover (Bilddleford, ME) along with sophomore teammates Amanda Vaudreuil (Windham, NH) and Jessica Potter (Crown Point, NY) all drove in runs.
The Blue and Gold rallied for a run in the sixth on an RBI single by Hassett and freshman Kaitlyn Storro (Leominster, MA) had a run producing solo hit, but they would leave the tying runs on base as UNE freshman Kelly Reid (Nantucket, MA) ended the game with a strikeout.
Junior Hannah Everson (Methuen, MA) was handed the setback in a complete game effort. Everson gave up six runs (five earned) while scattering 12 hits to go along with four strikeouts and a walk.
Reid earned the win going the distance. She allowed four runs (two earned) on nine hits as she finished fanning five and issuing a pair of free passes.
Kerr, Cordio and Jacobs tallied two hits apiece and Jacobs crossed the plate twice. Gott, Grover and freshman Gabrielle LaRoche (Deerfield, NH) notched two base-knocks each.
Tomorrow the Lancers will face UMass Dartmouth at 9 AM and St. Olaf of Minnesota at 11 AM at the Cape Coral complex.