Worcester, MA- The third-seeded Worcester State Lancers (25-14, 11-3) hosted sixth-seeded Fitchburg State Falcons (11-25, 5-9) for the first round of the MASCAC tournament. Due to weather and field conditions, the game previously scheduled for 4 PM yesterday was moved to today with a 4 PM start.
The stakes are high in this single-elimination game. A Lancer win would see the team travel to Framingham State for a quarterfinal bout with the Rams. A Falcon win would secure a spot against Westfield State on the road.
These two teams faced off last on April 15th seeing the Lancers take both games of the double-header by scores of 5-4 and 1-0.
Final
Fitchburg State: 0
Worcester State: 7
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Lancers Head Coach Keri Bianchini called upon senior ace Emily Bartlett (Lowell, MA) for the start of the win-or-go-home playoff matchup. Bartlett won Pitcher of the Year for the 2022-2023 season and showed a strong chance of winning again with her 15-4 record, 1.97 ERA, and 153 strikeouts, all best in the MASCAC.
For the Falcons, Head Coach Carissa Cicolini handed the ball to graduate student Sarah Cahill (Mansfield, MA). Cahill enters today with a (4-9) record and a 4.36 ERA.
This game entered the bottom of the third with no score and just two hits total, both coming from the Lancers in the early pitching duel. Worcester State busted it open in the bottom of the third, scoring four runs. Sophomore center fielder Bailey Tammaro (Fitchburg, MA) led off with a double that was ripped into left-center. Junior shortstop Emma Lanpher (Charlton, MA) laid down a successful bunt to move Tammaro to third, Lanpher moving to second after seeing no Falcon covering the bag. Emma Lapoint scored both runners with a single giving Worcester a 2-0 lead. Lapoint extended the lead by scoring on a passed ball with junior Abigail Koziol (Lunenburg, MA) at the plate. Koziol eventually got on base with a single to left center. Sophomore designated hitter Bella Gasbarro (Leominster, MA) settled into the box blasting a double bringing Koziol home.
Fitchburg went to the bullpen, handing the ball to sophomore Madison Solt (Madison, NH) in relief for Cahil. The Lancers were unfazed with sophomore second-baseman Morgan Keefe (Dracut, MA) hitting an RBI double into left field bringing Gasbarro home, the score 5-0. Sophomore first baseman Amanda Adamuska (Dudely, MA) forced a walk followed by first-year right fielder Cali Brouillard (Millbury, MA) single that scored Keefe for the last run of the inning.
Fitchburg was held hitless heading into the top of the fourth. Senior outfielder Dana Cisowski (Torrington, CT) worked a walk with one out to get on base. Cisowski advanced to second on a passed ball before an Isabella Sousa (Charlton, MA) that put both into scoring position. Bartlett eventually struck out the next batter to end the half-inning and stop any offense from the Falcons.
Fast-forward to the bottom of the fifth, Cali Brouillard singled up the middle to lead off. Brouillard stole second base and on the throw deflected off her body allowing her to take third. Bailey Tammaro grounded out to short, sending Cali home for the 7-0 lead. Coach Cicolini dived into her bullpen once more, this time handing the ball to Mary Kate Moreau (Berkeley, MA). Moreau entered the game with a (2-6) record and 3.43 ERA as she held the Lancers to zero runs in relief in a clean bottom of the sixth.
Bartlett trotted out for the top of the seventh effectively shutting down Fitchburg and sealing the complete game shutout.
Bartlett would end the game with six strikeouts and allowing just a single hit in the victory.
WHAT'S NEXT:
With the win, Worcester advances to the MASCAC Quarterfinals where they hit the road to face off against two-seeded Framingham St with a scheduled first-pitch of 4 PM.