Cape Coral, FL --- The Worcester State softball team opened their 2013 season with a split as they were handed a 2-1 setback by Smith in the first game before the Lancers defeated St. Josephs College of Brooklyn, 12-0, in five innings.

In their win over St. Josephs (1-5), sophomore Hayley Terry (N. Dighton, MA) and junior Hillary Hart (Clinton, MA) were both 3-for-3 at the plate with a trio of RBIs each.  

The Lancers put up three runs in the first inning to go up 3-0 early on.

Second-year Kaitlyn Storro (Leominster, MA) scored on a throwing error by the shortstop and then senior Hannah Everson (Methuen, MA) chipped in with an RBI double. After Everson moved to third on a passed ball, she came around to score on a two-base safety by Hart.

Worcester State put up five more scores in the third frame to take over a commanding 8-0 lead.

Everson reached base on a double and then the Blue and Gold plated four consecutive runners in the form of a Hart two-bagger, a Terry single up the middle, a Hanley safety and a base-knock by junior Carolyn Hassett (Charlton, MA). Hassett completed the rally when she crossed the plate on a wild pitch.

WSU put the game away with four more runs in the fourth as they were highlighted by a two-run double in the left-center gap by Hanley and an RBI single by freshman Sara Pelletier (Leominster, MA).

In her first start of the season, Everson (1-0) recorded the two-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts and she walked no one.  Everson retired her first 10 batters before she yielded a single to right center to junior Mabel Vargas (Ridgewood, NY).

Vargas (1-3) shouldered the setback as she allowed eight earned runs over her three innings of work.

Senior Danielle Marino (Maspeth, NY) had the other base-knock on an infield single for St. Josephs.

Terry, Hassett and Storro all notched two base-knocks apiece and a pair of RBIs each as the Lancers out-hit their opponents 15-2.

In their setback against Smith, Worcester State could not erase an early two-run deficit in the top of the first inning.

With one out, senior Tessa Clark (Calais, ME) and freshman Tori Brown (New Market, MD) reached base with consecutive singles before first-year Gina Martucci (Pompton Plains, NJ) drove them both in with a two-run double to left center.

Martucci helped out her own cause by retiring nine of her first ten batters before she was touched up for a run in the bottom of the fourth.

Terry started the rally with a solo base-knock and then she moved to second on a sacrifice. Senior Aimee Lamoureux (E. Brookfield, MA) drove in Pellietier - who came in to pinch run - but she was stranded as Martucci ended the threat with a fly-out and by fanning the next batter.

Martucci did a great job of shutting down the Lancer offense, but needed a little bit of help from her fielders to put the game away in the last of the seventh. With one out and the potential game-winning runs at second and third, she induced a line-out at second base and at home plate to end the game.

Rich went the distance for the Blue and Gold as the tough-luck loser. She punched out five and gave up two earned runs while she yielded seven base-knocks.

Martucci scattered five hits and gave up just one earned run in her debut for the season. She fanned eight and walked no one.

Worcester State continues their spring training trip with the University New England at 9 AM and Brockport State at 1 o'clock at the Cape Coral Complex.