Softball Remains Unbeaten In MASCAC With Sweep At MCLA

Worcester State 2, MCLA 0

Worcester State 4, MCLA 2

Game 1 --- Box Score

Game 2 --- Box Score

North Adams, MA --- Worcester State defeated MCLA 2-0 and 4-2 to improve their record to 14-10 and 6-0 in conference play. The Lancers were paced by a three-hit shutout by junior Michaella Mahoney (Shrewsbury, MA) in the opener and a key two-run single by sophomore Erica Cordio (Leominster, MA) in the nightcap.

In game one Mahoney out dueled third-year Hadley Ameen (North Adams, MA) by a 2-0 score; both pitchers went the distance as they each allowed three hits. The difference in the game was five Trailblazer errors that resulted in two unearned runs.

Worcester got a run in the second when freshman Kate Souder (Milford, MA) reached on an error leading off the inning. Souder would later score in the inning on a fielder’s choice.  Worcester would get another in the fourth on two more MCLA errors with two outs in the inning.

MCLA had a chance in the seventh when senior Kate Oullette (Norwood, MA) and junior Kayla Koumjian (Watervliet, NY) hit back to back singles with two outs bringing the winning run to the plate. However, Mahoney induced a grounded out to end the threat and the contest.

Freshman Alex Kerr (Franklin, MA) had two hits for the Lancers as Oullette had two for MCLA. Mahoney moves to 9-5 with the win while Ameen dropped to 8-8 with the defeat.

Game two was also a close affair, but again the Lancers came out on top 4-2.

MCLA got behind 4-0 after three innings after the Lancers plated three in the third. Sophomore Lauren Besozzi (Milford, MA) drove in Kerr, who reached first on a bunt single, before Cordio came up in the clutch with a single that plated a pair of runs with two outs.

The Lancers tacked on one more run for the 4-0 edge. Sophomore Jamie Jacobs (Billerica, MA) led off with a triple and she crossed the plate on an RBI squeeze bunt play by junior Kaitlyn Laflash (Northbridge, MA).

MCLA again would threaten late. The Trailblazers got a run back in the fourth, but squandered a chance for more. With on runners second and third with nobody out, senior Jacklyn Candelet (Pittsfield, MA) scored on a first-year Megan Boyer (Clarksburg, MA) ground out. But the inning abruptly ended when frshman Sarah Greenwood (Northfield, MA) was tagged out at home as she tried to score on a ground out by Ouellette.

The Trailblazers cut the lead in half in the sixth on junior Amber Coburn's (Colrain, MA) first homer of the year and they threatened with the tying and go-ahead runs on in the bottom of the seventh, but Mahoney used a ground out and a punchout to clinch the game.

Besozzi had two hits for the Lancers in the nightcap while first-year Melissa Beaudry (Worcester, MA/St. Peter-Marian) improved her record to 2-3 as she picked up the triumph in relief.

Sophomore Marcy Rumrill (Orange, MA) was the starter in the nightcap for WSC as she went the first three innings before she gave way to Beaudry in the fourth. Rumrill and Beaudry yielded a run each as they combined to give up five hits. Mahoney notched her second career save as she did not give up a hit, but she issued a pair of free passes in the seventh.

Ameen took the loss for MCLA to fall to 8-9.  Candelet had two hits. Freshman Kendra Hobbs (Haverill, MA) and Greenwood were both 1-3.

Mahoney is tied with Salem State's Katelyn Fanning for the MASCAC lead in shutouts while her scoreless innings streak now stands at 20 2/3 innings.

Worcester State will play Rhode Island College in a twinbill on Wednesday at a site to be determined while MCLA will take on Skidmore at home at 3:30 PM.

Portions of Release Courtesy of MCLA Sports Information