Lancers Drop Opening Game of MASCAC Quarterfinals

Worcester, MA- The #3 Worcester State Softball team travelled to #2 Bridgewater State today for the MASCAC Quarterfinal game against the Bears. The Lancers split the regular season series with the Bears with each team claiming a victory. Worcester looked to grab the first win of the double elimination quarterfinal to take some of the pressure off going into tomorrow's game with a victory already in hand.

The Lancers got things started early with just three pitches in the Bear's Klingel had already seen first year Amanda Adamuska (Dudley, MA) and senior Jacqui Schwalm (Billerica, MA) single onto bases. Sophomore Emma Lanpher (Charlton, MA) would then grab out number one with her sacrifice bunt that advanced both runners forward on the bases. An error by Bridgewater on sophomore Abigail Koziol's hit would bring Adamuska home and a first year Bella Gasbarro (Leominster, MA) pop fly to center would grab out number two for the Bears but also run number two for the Lancers as Schwalm would cross to put Worcester up 2-0 early in the game. Sophomore Sarah Gosselin (Charlton, MA) would start on the mound for Worcester, making quick work of the Bridgewater batters as she forced the batters to put the ball into play for easy outs.

While Worcester looked to extend their lead into the second inning, Klingel found some much needed composure quickly knocking down the Lancer's batters as she forced them to put the ball onto the ground for the quick put outs. Gosselin returned the favor in the bottom of the inning to see the second inning pass without a score change. The bottom of the third would see the next scoring action as Habib would single down the right field only to be brought home when Thibaudea would double to left center field line for the bears to cut the Lancers lead to one. A swift pitching change by the Lancer would see junior Emily Bartlett (Lowell, MA) step in to relieve Gosselin, resulting in a change behind home plate as sophomore Jordon Geloso (Rutland, MA) would step in to work with Bartlett. With no outs recorded as Bartlett took over, she worked quickly to grab the three outs, striking out three consecutive Bears batters swinging.

The scoreless streak would remain through the seventh inning. The Bears stranded several potential tying chances on base through the innings but were unable to close the gap as by the start of the seventh. Worcester would look the add some insurance runs in the top of the seventh as Gasbarro peat the throw to nab an early single. Senior Rachel Sinclair (Westminster, MA) would look to move her along the bases but a grounder to the short stop would see two outs quickly registered against the Lancers. Senior Naraylee Baez (Northborough, MA) would try to keep the chance for more runs alive as she stepped up to the plate, knocking in a single as she beat out the toss, but was ultimately left stranded on first when Bartlett went down looking.

The Bears looked to grab the seventh inning come back as Bartlett worked to continue her dominating pitching performance from the mound. A walk on the first batter would put the tying run at the plate with no outs, but a sac bunt would grab out number one for the Lancers. Thibaudea was then hit by the pitch to put the winning run-on base as the Lancers looked to close out the game and the victory. Another sacrifice bunt would see the Lancers grab out number two, but the runners would settle on third and second. After grabbing two quick strikes, the Bear's Marcotte pushed Bartlett to pitch to the outside until she was able to connect with a pitch that sent a single bouncing past second base sending two runners across plate for the walk-off 3-2 victory.

Gosselin recorded two innings of work allowing only two hits and a run, while striking out one. Bartlett would cover the remaining innings, allowing two hits and two runs while striking out six in the game. Koziol and Gasbarro would each record an RBI on the day for the Lancers.

Worcester State will return to action tomorrow when they take on the loser of the Framingham State vs. Westfield State game at 12:30pm at Framingham State in the elimination bracket of the MASCAC Quarterfinals.