Worcester, MA --- WPI sophomore Lauren DiFelice (Acushnet, MA) totaled four RBI and three runs scored and senior pitchers Allie Hardy (West Townsend, MA) and Erin Flaherty (Stoughton, MA) combined to yield only two runs as WPI swept visiting Worcester State by scores of 4-2 and 6-0 in a non-conference softball doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon.
With the victories, the Engineers move their record to 19-11 on the season while the Lancers, who played in last year's NCAA Tournament, slip to 7-13.
The sweep was the first in the series since the Crimson and Gray turned the trick in 2008 as the two teams had split their last three twin bills.
Freshman Amanda Pierce (Ware, MA) registered two hits and a pair of RBIs while Hardy allowed just two earned runs to help WPI take game one over the Lancers. After three scoreless innings, the Engineers dented the scoreboard in the fourth off a run-producing single by Pierce. Worcester State countered in the sixth when junior Aimee Lamoureux (East Brookfield, MA) and senior Jaime Jacobs (Billerica, MA) both delivered RBI singles to seize the 2-1 lead.
The Crimson and Grey answered in the bottom half when they got three unearned runs. Sophomore Nicole McDonough (Abington, MA) brought freshman Katie Bumila (Raynham, MA) home on a double down the third base line to tie the score at two apiece. WPI took the lead on a RBI fielder's choice by DiFelice and then got an insurance run from Pierce's second RBI single of the game.
Hardy, who allowed seven hits and had three strikeouts, worked around a leadoff double in the seventh for her fifth victory of the season. Sophomore Kelly Winter (Attleboro, MA) absorbed the loss for WSU despite not allowing an earned run in her two innings of relief. Freshman Katie Roy (Worcester, MA) tossed the first four innings for the Lancers and was charged with a run.
Flaherty recorded eight strikeouts and DiFelice had two hits and three RBI to help propel the Engineers to a game two shutout. WPI would get three runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by sophomore Ali LaRue's (South Glen Falls, NY) two run single and junior Erin Beaulieu's (Bethany, CT) RBI single. DiFelice added a three-run home run in the sixth to account for the final score.
Flaherty, who registered her team leading eighth win of the season, allowed only four hits while walking just one batter. Junior Hannah Everson (Methuen, MA) registered seven punch outs while going the distance for Worcester State in the loss and, along with senior Ashley Howe (Winchenton, MA), Lamoureux and Jacobs, accounted for one of the Lancer's four base hits in the night cap.
WPI, who is tied for third in the NEWMAC, hosts second place Wheaton on Friday in a conference doubleheader beginning at 3pm. Worcester State closes it run of midweek non-conference doubleheaders on Thursday when it hosts Nichols at 5pm at Rockwell Field.
Release courtesy of WPI Sports Information