Lancers Split Twinbill with Cross-Town Rival WPI

WPI 11, Worcester State 1

Worcester State 3, WPI 1

Game 1 --- Box Score

Game 2 --- Box Score

Worcester, MA --- WPI senior Sarah Migdal (Galway, NY-C) hammered a pair of home runs in an 11-1 five inning victory over Worcester State in game one and then the Lancers earned a hard-fought 3-1 triumph to split their doubleheader against the Engineers at Rockwood Park in non conference softball this evening.

With the split the Lancers move to 7-14-1 overall while the Crimson and Gray walk away with a 10-19 record on the season.

Freshman Allie Hardy (Townsend, MA) was sensational as she scattered three hits while allowing just one earned run over five innings of work. Hardy upped her record to 7-5 as she fanned one batter and did not issue a walk.

WPI opened the scoring with a 3-0 lead in the second inning as they took advantage of a pair of errors. The Engineers scored all three runs when sophomore Sarah Johnson (Eastham, MA-1B) plated a run on a miscue at third and then senior Nicole Maglione (Charlton, MA-CF) hit a two-run triple to cap off the frame.

Midgal put the Boynton Hillers up 4-0 as she launched the first pitch she saw into left field to lead off the top of the third.

The Lancers tried to get back into the contest as they threatened with runners at second and third and one out in the bottom of the third. Junior Maura Crossman (Colrain, MA-3B) hit a run producing ground out to push across a run, but the inning ended as a double play after the Crimson and Gray converted the out at first and tagged out the runner from second at home plate.

WPI broke the contest open after their offense exploded with seven more runs over the next two innings as they were highlighted by a two-run double in the fourth by junior Amanda Matori (Haverill, MA-3B) and a two-run homer for Migdal's fifth dinger of the season in the fifth.

Freshman Katherine Figella (Feeding Hills, MA) took the loss in the circle for Worcester State after she allowed four runs (one earned) in her three innings of work. Figella also struck out two batters and walked no one.

In the second contest, WSC sophomore Michaella Mahoney (Shrewsbury, MA) earned her fourth straight victory to improve to 7-5 on the season. Mahoney went the distance as she allowed one run on five hits while she struck out nine and handed out one walk.

First-year Erin Flaherty (Stoughton, MA) tossed six solid innings as she allowed three runs (none earned) on three hits. Hardy (2-7) also walked one and chipped in with six punchouts.

Freshman Stephanie Mullen (Natick, MA-RF) put the Lancers up 1-0 in the bottom of the third after she crossed the plate on an error in the infield with two outs in the frame. Worcester State continued threaten again with runners on first and second, but Hardy induced a ground-out to end the inning.

Mahoney shut WPI down over the first five innings as she set down 14 of the first 16 batters she faced. The Engineers, however, knotted the game up in the sixth inning as they scored a run when Migdal hit a run-producing infield single to score freshman Danielle Antonellis (Duxbury, MA-1B) with the bases-loaded.

Worcester State promptly responded and took the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Senior Veronica Clark (Worcester, MA-SS) led off the inning reaching first on an infield miscue and then she moved to third on a wild pitch and a sacrifice bunt. Crossman then plated the go-ahead run with a clutch single to score Clark before the Lancers tacked on an insurance run on an RBI ground out by sophomore Ashley Loomer (Pepperell, MA-2B).

Mahoney ended the game with a perfect inning to seal the victory for Worcester State.

Migdal went 4-for-7 with four runs and four RBIs on the afternoon while junior Katherine Kelly (Burlington, MA-3B) went 2-for-2 in the second contest.

Both teams will host opponents in doubleheaders on Friday at 3:30. Worcester State will take the diamond against Clark while WPI faces off against Wheaton in a NEWMAC contest.