CLERMONT, Fla. - The Worcester State University softball team dropped its first two games of the season on Sunday at Legends Way Ballfields. The Lancers opened the day by falling 6-3 to Amherst College, before they were defeated by Westminster by a 12-4 final in five innings.
With the losses, the Lancers fall to 0-2 on the season.
GAME 1 - Amherst 6, Worcester State 3
The Lancers put up a strong fight against one of the New England region's best teams, but couldn't maintain an early lead in a season opening loss.
Worcester State scored a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, thanks to a two-run double from senior Katie Polselli (Charlton, Mass.). Senior Kristen Huston (Spencer, Mass.) and junior Kaiulani Ennis (Swansea, Mass.) came around to score the opening runs of the season for the Lancers.
Amherst got one run back in the bottom of the first, as a double down the left field line from sophomore Audrey Hansen (Carmel, Ind.) brought home Kate Kopatic (Houston, Texas). The Lancers led 2-1 at the end of the first inning.
Amherst evened the score in the bottom of the third on an RBI groundout from sophomore RonnieMarie Falasco (Broomall, Pa.). Worcester State threatened to retake the lead in the top of the fourth after junior Samantha Stake (Worcester, Mass.) roped a two-out triple to the gap in right center, but the Lancers couldn't get her across.
The score was still 2-2 into the bottom of the fifth, when the Mammoths exploded for four runs to take a 6-2 lead. Sophomore Alyson Plaman (Bloomington, Minn.) and freshman Sage Innerarity (Elk Grove, Calif.) each contributed two-run singles in the inning to give Amherst their first lead of the contest.
Ennis connected on an RBI double in the top of the seventh to score Ashley Lynch (Shrewsbury, Mass.) from second, but Worcester State couldn't close out the rally, stranding runners on second and third to close out the season opener.
Senior Rachel Frisch (Worcester, Mass.) took the loss in the circle, throwing 4.2 innings and allowing five earned on seven hits. Freshman Talia Bloxham (Goleta, Calif.) earned for first collegiate win for Amherst, going six strong allowing just two earned on two hits with four strikeouts.
GAME 2 - Westminster (Pa.) 12, Worcester State 4 (5 innings)
Three big innings for Westminster carried the Titans over Worcester State as the Lancers dropped their second game of the day.
After neither team recorded a hit in the first two innings of the contest, Westminster got on the board in the top of the third, putting up a three-spot. Sophomore Alexa Brinza (McKees Rocks, Pa.) scampered home with the game's first run on a wild pitch, and two batters later, freshman Madison Brown (Lisbon, Ohio) singled to left field to drive in another run for the Titans. A bases loaded walk made the score 3-0 after two and a half innings.
The Lancers quickly tied up the score in the bottom of the inning however, as Polselli, sophomore Sam Maglione (Lancaster, Mass.), and freshman Tyler Rano (Auburn, Mass.) all recorded RBI singles to knot the score at 3-3.
Westminster registered another three-spot in the top of the fourth to regain a three-run lead, with three unearned runs. Sophomore Sarah Fahey (Auburn, Mass.) snuck in the backdoor and crossed the plate for Worcester State in the bottom of the inning on a steal attempt at second base to cut the deficit to 6-4.
A two-run, wall ball double from sophomore Ashley Chorney (Indian Trail, N.C.) was the toughest blow in a six-run fifth that saw Westminster put the game out of reach.
Senior Haley Scola (Worcester, Mass.) took the loss for the Lancers in the circle, throwing 1.2 innings in relief in the contest, allowing three runs (all unearned) on three hits. Brown went the distance for Westminster to get the victory, allowing four earned on five hits.
Worcester State will continue to seek its first win of the season when the Lancers return to the field on Monday against Nebraska Wesleyan and Susquehanna in Florida.
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