Worcester, MA --- Worcester State defeated Rhode Island College, 3-2 in eight innings and 3-1, in non-conference softball action this evening at Rockwood Park.
Freshman Kaitlyn Storro (Leominster, MA) went 3-for-4 in the opener with the game-winning bunt single and sophomore Kelly Winter (Attleboro, MA) tossed a two-hitter in the nightcap to help sweep the Anchorwomen who were last year's NCAA Division III New England regional finalists.
To start off game one, RIC (7-4) went up 1-0 in the top of the third on an run producing single by junior Marisa Jandreau (Plainville, CT) with two outs.
Rhode Island College increased their lead by two when Jandreau came around to score on a single to left by freshman Justina Thoma (Caterbury, CT).
The Lancers (4-8) would knot the score 2-2 when they pushed across a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth.
After senior Erica Cordio (Leominster, MA) led off the frame with a walk, she moved into scoring position on a sacrifice. Storro plated Cordio with a single up the middle before moving to second on the throw home and third on an errant throw by the centerfielder.
Junior Alex Kerr (Franklin, MA) followed with an RBI to score the equalizer as she reached on an error by the pitcher.
The Anchorwomen had a chance to score in the go-ahead run with a man on third and one out in the top of the seventh. But RIC failed to capitalize the visitors decided to send the runner home on a chopper that went back to the junior right hander Hannah Everson (Methuen, MA) who flipped it to the catcher help end the rally.
Everson also got out of a jam in the top of the eighth with runners at second and third and no outs when she retired the side in order.
That would help set the stage for the Lancers to score the game-winning run on a squeeze bunt single to the pitcher by Storro for the triumph in the bottom of the eighth, when she drove in Cordio.
Everson (2-4), who had runners on base in every inning but the second, finished allowing two earned runs and she scattered nine hits. She fanned six, walked two and stranded eight in scoring position (10 total left on base).
Junior Jessica Borden (Lincoln, RI) shouldered the setback for the Anchorwomen. Borden (4-1) yielded three runs (one earned) on six hits to go with four strikeouts and one walk in her seven-plus innings of work.
RIC freshman Taylor Nelson (Wareham, MA) and junior Kristina Gringell (Pascoag, RI) each chipped in with two hits apiece while senior Lauren Besozzi (Milford, MA) added a pair of base-knocks for the Lancers. Cordio scored two runs in the opener.
Besozzi jump-started the offense for Worcester State in the second game when she snapped a scoreless draw on a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth. She plated Winter and fourth-year Jaime Jacobs (Billerica, MA) with two men down after both moved into scoring position on a double-steal.
The Lancers added another run in the bottom of the fifth on a wild pitch for the 3-0 advantage.
Rhode Island College scored their lone run in the top of the sixth when sophomore Stacy Pokora (Wilton, CT) reached on a fielder's choice. She stole second and scampered home on a wild throw by the first baseman as the Lancer defense tried to get a double play at first and third.
Worcester State would strand runners on second and third in the sixth before Winter came out to hurl a perfect seventh for her first career triumph.
Winter (1-3) shut down the RIC lineup, who came into the twinbill batting .326 as a squad. She fanned five and walked three as she was aided by several tremendous plays in the middle infield by Cordio and junior Aimee Lamoureux (E. Brookfield, MA). Out of 21 possible outs, 14 came by way on the ground for Winter.
Junior Emily Johnson (W. Kingston, MA) was tagged with the setback for the Anchorwomen. Johnson (3-3) went the first five innings allowing three earned runs on five hits with a pair of strikeouts and two walks.
Jacobs was the lone multi-hitter for the game as was 2-for-3 and she reached base in three plate appearances.
In the second game, the two squads combined for seven steals with two swipes by Lamoureux and Jacobs.
On Saturday afternoon, both teams start their respective conference schedules with doubleheaders. Worcester State takes on Westfield State on the road at 12 PM while Rhode Island College entertains Keene State at 1 PM.