Mahoney Hurls Shutout in 1-0 Victory Over Anna Maria

Worcester State 1, Anna Maria 0

Box Score

Paxton, MA --– Sophomore Michaela Mahoney (Shrewsbury, MA) hurled a complete-game shutout to lift the Worcester State College softball team to a 1-0 victory over Anna Maria College in a classic pitcher’s duel on a rainy Thursday afternoon. With the win, the Lancers improve their season record to 2-8-1, while the loss drops the AMCATS to 1-12 on the year.

Sophomore Dominique Marchand (Mendon, MA) paced the AMCATS with a game-high two hits in three at bats, while sophomores Sarah Boyda (Oxford, MA) and Jill Hurley (Worcester, MA) each went 1-3 on the day. Sophomore Nicole Hackenson (Mendon, Mass.) took the tough luck loss for AMC after allowing just one unearned run on only one hit over five strong innings of work, striking out five batters in the process.

Mahoney was the star of the game for the Lancers as she struck out six batters over seven shutout innings to capture the win. Mahoney allowed just four hits in the game and didn’t surrender a single walk. Sophomore Kaitlyn Laflash (Northbridge, MA) went 1-3 and scored the lone run of the game for the Lancers, while senior Ashley Nye (Marion, MA) and junior Maura Crossman (Colrain, MA) each collected one hit apiece.

After two hitless innings to begin the game, Laflash led off the top of third for the Lancers with a base hit up the middle. After a sacrifice bunt by junior Kara Sztuka (Webster, MA) moved Laflash into scoring position, a ground ball to the right side by freshman Lauren Besozzi (Milford, MA) advanced her to third. Laflash would come home on the very next play, as a costly AMC error allowed the go-ahead run to score.

Worcester State threatened again in the top of the fifth when AMC starter Nicole Hackenson began to lose her command. After striking out the first two batters of the inning, Hackenson loaded the bases on a hit-batsman and two walks. The AMCATS would escape the inning unscaved after shortstop Becky Mercurio (Worcester, MA.) stabbed a ringing line drive off the bat of WSC catcher Ashley Nye to end the rally.

The AMCATS threatened several times but couldn’t come up with the big hit. AMC would strand runners in the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh innings before finally falling, 1-0.

The Lancers will play again Wednesday on the road versus Elms College at 4:00 pm. The AMCATS will be back in action this Saturday, traveling to take on Salve Regina in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader starting at 12:00 pm.

Release Courtesy of Anna Maria Sports Information