Worcester, MA- Last year saw the Lancers hit the 25-win mark, an impressive season that saw the Lancers finish in the number three position when it came to their MASCAC conference seeding. The team lost four seniors and one grad student from last year's illustrious squad, but with a wealth of new talent joining this year, they are not feeling hampered. To replace these key figures, recruits were brought in to help the Lancers challenge for a top 2 finish in the MASCAC and come away with even more wins this season. The Lancers play a condensed schedule, thanks to the vagaries of the New England weather, which can see them play around 40 games in 55 days. A majority of these fixtures are doubleheaders making for long days of action on game days. Not all, but a large portion, of the hard work of getting ready to play a college season was done during the late fall and early spring semesters inside batting cages and on turf helped the team get fit and prepare before the team heads on Spring Break to play 12 of their allotted 40 games in a season in one compact week of action. 

The two captains for this year's campaign are Emily Bartlett and Abigail Koziol. Bartlett is an RHP who was a Second-Team MASCAC All-Conference selection last year and  Pitcher of the Year two years ago, who had an ERA below 4 last season. She also made her way onto the All-Academic Team as a result of her dedication in the classroom. Koziol was a First Team All-Conference selection who split her time between being serving as the team's designated hitter and a top notch catcher. Her high hitting averages hit a peak during the middle of the season where she was hitting .445. Both of these captains are exemplary on and off the field, and have graciously offered their time to answer some questions about the upcoming season.

Emily Bartlett:

How would you describe this team in three words or less?

• Versatile, ambitious, entertaining 

What is one upperclassman from last season who taught you something important?

• Jen Thorburn was a pitcher I have looked up to since I came to WSU. She had an amazing screwball and I can now credit my improvement with that pitch to her. She taught me how important it is to support other pitchers and really set the standard that we’re a team, not in competition with each other for innings. 

As a pitcher what is one thing you would like to improve?

• I definitely want to improve my off speed pitches this season. Playing my 4th season now I have faced all the conference teams enough for them to know what I throw the most, even if they can’t hit it I need something different to keep people off balance. 

Who is someone that has helped you deeply throughout your collegiate career?

• I honestly don’t think I would still be playing college softball if it weren’t for my coaches here. They’ve believed in me as a player when I didn’t have the confidence in myself, and have shown me what good coaches can do for a player. Coach Hatfield focuses more on the pitchers and she has really pushed me to become the pitcher I am now. She isn’t afraid to tell me what I need to do better or when a pitch is terrible, but she never leaves it at that. She’s able to tell me how I can work on it and notices things I never do. Both my coaches aren’t your typical coaches, they don’t just tell you what to do, but work with you. They work with me and focus on my strengths rather than against me.

What are two goals that you have for this season?

• MASCAC champions

• Continue to consistently strike out batters and lead the league in strikeouts 

Teammate Questions:

One freshman that has really impressed you?

• I can’t choose just 1 freshman, of the 3 we got in all are amazing. Peyton and Taylor are huge additions to our pitching staff and after the loss of Naraylee Baez in the outfield Cali Brouillard has been able to come in and make some great catches. 

One teammate who resembles you the most?

• Peyton Maloney is an amazing pitcher who dominated in her high school career and we were super lucky to get her. She can lock in on the mound when she needs to but is also super energetic and always has a funny remark on the side or even mid pitch! 

One teammate who you think will have the first homerun of the year?

• Bella Gasbarro 

Lastly, which two teammates are inseparable?

• Abigail & Bailey

Abigail Koziol:

What is the game/series you're looking forward to this season? 

• I am most looking forward to the Rhode Island College Series. As you mentioned in the intro, I had a strong hitting performance in the middle of the season. This strong hitting performance was shut down by RIC last year, leading me to an 0/9 stretch at the plate. I am looking forward to getting a bit of revenge for myself. I am looking to prove to myself that I can hit against their pitchers efficiently and do my job at the plate, not letting anyone put me in a little slump. 

How do you manage the congested schedule and what advice would you give to any student athlete who can struggle with time management?

• Being a nursing major, my schedule is very hectic in general, but even more hectic when it comes to being in season. I am constantly on go, go, go, but I would not change it for the world. Having my academics and athletics in college has given me a sense of normalcy, as this is something that I have had to balance my whole life. College is definitely a much harder work load and an even bigger commitment to my sport, but it all comes down to time management. To sum it all up, there is no slacking. You have to stay on top of your work, get assignments done early if you can, use study hall time wisely, fill out an agenda, and most importantly prove to yourself that it can be done. From my experience, the best advice I can give to someone who is struggling with time management is to fill out a daily schedule or a weekly schedule; so you know what is a priority and what is not a priority to be done that day or that week.

What's your favorite memory from last season?

• My favorite memory from last season was accomplishing something that was well overdue. Last year I finally put one over the center field fence here at Rockwood Field, which gave me my first collegiate home run. As a hitter you know when you get a hold of the ball, so when I got that feeling I knew it was out! Looking up at the stands and seeing my family cheering so loud and rounding the bases giving coaches high fives and then meeting my teammates at the plate for helmet hits. There is nothing that can top that feeling, which makes it my favorite memory from last season! 

This year's spring break you guys will be in Clermont, Florida. What is something you want to get from this trip?

• Traveling down to Florida for spring break this season, one of the main things I am looking forward to getting from this trip is validation. Validation that we all deserve to show to ourselves that all the hard work and determination in the gym, in the classroom, and on the field is paying off. This being my third season as a Lancer, I can confidently say that this team is the most well-rounded team that I have been a part of. Offensively and defensively we gel, so collectively as a whole and I cannot wait to show our opponents what we are all about. 

Your Lancer game is April 4th. What is something you want to say to your fellow Lancers about why they should pop out to your game?

• Softball games may be long and boring to some people, but supporting one another is what it is all about! Everyone should come out to our Lancer game on April 4th to support us on the field! Being there as athletes for one another is huge, supporting each other and showing out to games is even more important! See ya at Rock Wood Field at 4 PM on April 4th! 

Teammate Questions:

One teammate who always makes you laugh?

• Jayden Kelly! She is always so positive and is always cracking jokes! She never fails to put a smile on your face, especially when you need one! 

One teammate who pushes you when it comes to the training? 

• Emma Lanpher - My roommate since freshman year and although we bicker like an old married couple, there is nobody else I would want to push me in the gym. Working out with Emma I have learned many new exercises and ways to better myself physically! Check out her lifting page on instagram @lanpher.lifts!

If you were stuck on an Island, which teammate do you think you could survive with?

• As Emily answered above, Bailey and I are inseparable, so I would 100% have to go with Bailey on this one! Bailey and I would make a great team to survive on an island because we both have characteristics that the other one doesn't and these compliment one another very well. And… being stuck on an island you have to be able to get along, which I think we do without a problem! 

Thank you Emily and Abigail, and keep an eye on wsulancers.com next week as the Worcester State Softball team heads down to Florida to open up their season. They will be back home on March 29th for this year’s Rosen Awareness Pink Out Game when they host MCLA at 4pm.