Lancers Take Two from Elms to Even Up Record

Worcester State 8, Elms 0 - Six Innings

Worcester State 13, Elms 5 - Six Innings

Game One --- Box Score

Game Two --- Box Score

Worcester, MA --- The Worcester State Softball team swept visiting Elms 8-0 and 13-5 at Holy Cross in a pair of games that ended in the sixth inning as they were propelled by four combined home runs including a grand-slam by Lauren Besozzi (Milford, MA) in the second contest.

With the triumphs the Lancers even out their record to 6-6 while the Blazers fall to 1-10.

In the first game, junior Michaella Mahoney (Shrewsbury, MA) notched her second shutout of the season as her mark is now 3-4 on the year. Mahoney carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning as it was broken up with back-to-back hits with two outs in the sixth. She would finish with four strikeouts and walk just one batter.

WSC scored four runs in the first four frames of the contest all off of home runs. Mahoney jacked a two-run blast in the first before second-year classmates Erica Cordio (Leominster, MA) and Besozzi tacked on solo shots in the bottom of the third and fourth frames.

The Lancers then ended the opening game with a four-run sixth highlighted by a two-run double by Cordio and an RBI single by sophomore Ashley Howe (Winchendon, MA).

Cordio would go 3-for-4 with two runs and three runs driven in while Howe, Mahoney and sophomore Stephanie Mullen (Natick, MA) all contributed two hits apiece.

Second-year Courtney Hampton (Westfield, MA) was saddled with the loss for Elms as her record drops to 0-4.

Worcester State started off the second game with a three-run first as the Lancers took advantage of a miscue in the infield when junior Kaitlyn Laflash (Northbridge, MA) added a RBI and freshman Alex Kerr (Franklin, MA) tacked on another run with a sacrifice fly.

Elms though would answer and take over the 5-3 lead in the top of the second. WSC would commit three errors leading to four unearned runs. Blazer senior Ally Graffum (Ipswich, MA) and junior Destinee Meeker (Bantam, CT) helped take advantage as they combined to drive in four with back-to-back two-run singles.

The Lancers later responded in bottom of the third with five runs, four of which came from a grand slam by Besozzi, as they took the 8-5 edge.

The Blue and Gold would finally take control of the game with four runs in the bottom of the sixth to end the game as Mullen added a run producing single, Besozzi added a two-run double and Cordio followed with an RBI two-bagger to clinch the contest.

Sophomore Marcy Rumrill (Orange, MA) improved to 2-0 as she picked up the win in relief with four scoreless innings for first-year starter Melissa Beaudry (Worcester, MA/St. Peter-Marian). Rumrill allowed just one hit while she fanned four batters.

Second-year Elms hurler Ani Ramsdell (Gardner, MA) was tagged with the loss as she drops to 0-6.

Cordio, Kerr and Besozzi each notched three hits while Besozzi drove in six runs.

Worcester State will entertain Rhode Island College at a site to be determined on Tuesday while the Blazers travels to Smith on Monday for a 4:30 contest.