Telegram & Gazette: "Witkowski Comes Up In The Clutch In Sweep"
Worcester, MA --- Sophomore Jillian Witkowski (Leicester, MA) tallied five base-knocks – including a walk-off RBI single in the opener – and freshman Kayla Humphrey (Wallingford, CT) twirled a six-hitter in the nightcap as they helped propel Worcester State to a 3-2 and 3-1 sweep over Fitchburg State in MASCAC softball action this evening at Rockwood Park.
Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the sixth the Blue and Gold (9-12, 7-1 MASCAC) equalized the contest when Humphrey connected on a two-run solo base-knock to score Witkowski and freshman Courtney Salisbury (Cranston, RI).
Witkowski originally reached on a lead-off single and Salisbury doubled into the gap in right center put runners on second and third.
In dramatic fashion, the Blue and Gold ended the game with two men down in the last of the seventh.
Senior Hillary Hart (Clinton, MA) uncorked a double to the gap in right center before Witkowski followed with a game-ending solo safety to left field which sparked the hosts in the opener.
Fitchburg State (11-11, 5-3 MASCAC) opened the game on a run producing double by sophomore Tori Cyrus (Everett, MA) which plated senior Ashley Forgues (Fitchburg, MA).
Freshman Jessalynne Brown (Malden, MA) followed Cyrus up with a scoring single of her own to score sophomore Marissa Gemma (Leominster, MA) for the early 2-0 advantage.
In the top of the fifth, the Falcons had a great opportunity to build on their margin. With no one on base and two outs, Rich gave up a walk and consecutive singles to load up the bases. But she bore down on the next batter and ended the threat with a fly out to center.
Over her last six frames of work, Rich hurled six frames of five-hit softball to help give the Lancers a chance to come-from behind. Overall, Rich (4-5) gave up nine hits, two earned runs in addition to one walk and a pair of strikeouts.
Junior Brittany Whiting (Sharon, MA) absorbed the loss for the Falcons. Whiting (3-5), who used an effective change-up with a strong wind at her back to put up zeros over her first five stanzas, allowed three earned runs while she scattered eight hits. She fanned six and did not walk a batter.
Witkowski was 3-for-3 out of the ninth slot in the order for WSU while Humphrey and Salisbury both chipped in with pair base-knocks. Forges, Cyrus and sophomore Marissa Gemma (Leominster, MA) all added two hits each to help the Falcons finish with the 9-8 edge in the hitting category.
Worcester State went up 1-0 early in the bottom of the second of the nightcap when the hosts took advantage of a Fitchburg State miscue.
With two down in the frame, junior Katie Storro (Leominster, MA) drew a walk and moved to third on an errant throw back to first base by the catcher on a botched pickoff attempt. Storro then scampered home when freshman Mackenzie Crumley (Fall River, MA/Durfee) belted a double to left center.
Storro and Crumley did it again in the bottom of the fourth to help the Lancers take a 3-0 lead. As two out dots lit up the scoreboard, Storro doubled in sophomore Hayley Terry (N. Dighton, MA) before Crumley finished off the rally with an RBI single.
Fitchburg State, however, got to Humphrey in the top of the seventh. Junior Colleen Flaherty (Stoughton, MA) led off the stanza by reaching on a low flick by the third baseman. Flaherty then came around the score after back-to-back solo knocks by junior Katelyn Fitzgerald (Fitchburg, MA/St. Bernard's) and classmate Marissa Binnall (Fitchburg, MA).
With Fitzgerald at second and Binnall at first, the Falcons looked poised to stage a comeback, however, Humphrey induced a pair of fielder's choice ground outs at the top of the line-up to end the uprising and the series.
Humphrey (4-3) struck out one batter over her seven innings as she completed her third game of the year.
Senior Kerry Alcott (Groton, MA) yielded three runs (two earned) on six hits in her six innings of work. Alcott (5-4) rung up two on strikes and issued one base on balls in her ninth start.
Witkowski and Crumley both registered two base-knocks each for the hosts while Binnall finished 2-for-3 as the only visiting multi-hitter. Neither team led in hits as it was a 6-6 stalemate in the finale.
Entering the evening deadlocked in a tie for third place in the MASCAC standings, the Blue and Gold now sit as the only team with one loss as they take on unbeaten Bridgewater State on Friday in a conference twinbill starting at 3 PM.
Fitchburg State travels to MCLA for a doubleheader matchup with a 2 o'clock first-pitch on Good Friday.
You can follow the Worcester State Lancers on Facebook and Twitter