Worcester, MA --- The Worcester State University softball team swept a pair of non-conference games from WPI this evening at Rockwood Park.
In the opener, sophomore Katie Roy (Worcester, MA/Burncoat) and senior Kylene Pease (Ashland, MA) combined for a five-hitter in a 1-0 triumph before freshman Meghan Rich (Chelmsford, MA) tossed her first career shutout in a nightcap 5-0 victory
The Lancers tilt their record above .500 with the victories and now stand at 10-9 while the Engineers fall to 6-17 after absorbing the setbacks.
In the first game, the only run for the Lancers came in the fourth inning as sophomore Taylor Hanley (Wilmington, MA) reached on a single to the left side. Hanley then stole second and came around to score on a throwing error by the pitcher on third-year Hilary Hart's (Clinton, MA) sacrifice bunt attempt.
WPI threatened to equalize the game in the top half of the fifth when junior Nicole McDonough (Abington, MA) hit a one-out double to right center, but she was stranded as Roy induced a fly-out and a ground out to end the threat. In all, she retired her last eight batters to preserve the shutout.
In her third appearance of the season, Pease went the first three innings in the circle for the Lancers surrendering three hits while walking one and striking out one. Roy (3-1) earned the decision as she limited the opposition to just two base-knocks over the final four frames of play.
Senior right hander Christa Coscia (Lakeville, MA) was the tough-luck loser in the complete-game effort. Coscia (4-8) pitched all six innings allowing one unearned run while walking two and fanning five.
For the Lancers, Hanley was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with double and a run scored.
The second contest saw WSU break through with a four-run fourth en route to a 5-0 victory.
Third-year Carolyn Hassett (Charlton, MA) lead off the inning by reaching on an error by the first-baseman and moved to second on a bunt single by Pease before both scored on a triple to right field by Hart.
After a free pass and stolen base by senior Aimee Lamoureux (E. Brookfield, MA), freshman Hayley Terry (N. Dighton, MA) drove one up the middle plating two more for the 4-0 advantage.
The Blue and Gold added another run in the fifth when Hassett smacked a double with one man down and she scampered home on a throwing error by the pitcher on senior Alex Kerr's (Franklin, MA) sacrifice bunt attempt.
Senior Erin Beaulieu (Bethany, CT) led off the top of the seventh with a double down the left field line for the Engineers, who seemed poised for some late inning heroics. However, Rich bore down as she did all game and stranded Beaulieu at third.
Rich (5-3) was strong in earning the victory as she went all seven frames, allowing just six hits and fanning four. Rich stranded five runners in scoring position – including a trio of batters on third base on three occasions.
Freshman Clair Doolin (Newton, MA) was tagged with the loss after throwing six innings allowing five unearned runs with two free passes and seven strikeouts. Doolin is now 2-9 in the setback.
McDonough finished the day a combined 4-for-6 with a pair of doubles and a walk leading the way for the Crimson and Gray.
Both teams return to play on Thursday for twin bills as the Blue and Gold head to Nichols with the first game starting at 3 PM and WPI will play make-up game against Wellesley in the City of Worcester with first pitch scheduled for 5 PM.
Story by John Hanna --- Sports Information Graduate Assistant