Softball Sweeps Hawks In Doubleheader

Worcester State 8, Becker 0 - 5 Innings

Worcester State 14, Becker 3 - 5 Innings

Game 1 --- Box Score

Game 2 --- Box Score

Worcester, MA --- Worcester State defeated Becker College 8-0 and 14-3 this afternoon at WPI’s Class of 1893 field in non conference softball action in a pair of five inning games. The Lancers blanked the Hawks behind an outstanding performance by junior left hander Michaella Mahoney (Shrewsbury, MA) in the first game and in the second contest the Lancers used three home runs to help post the triumph.

With the victories WSC improves to 16-12 overall while Becker slips to 8-20.

In the opening game Mahoney hurled a one-hit shutout as she fanned 11 out of the 16 batters that she faced and she walked no one. Mahoney had pitched four hitless innings before she gave up a lead-off double to Hawk junior Lindsay Hanna (Portland, ME).

The Lancers were also paced by sophomore Stephanie Mullen (Natick, MA) who went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles while classmate Lauren Besozzi (Milford, MA) went 2-for-2 and freshman Elyce Roy (Worcester, MA/Burncoat) chipped in with two RBIs. At least five Lancers – including Besozzi and Mullen – dotted the score sheet with plated runs.

Worcester State started off the game with a 3-0 lead after two innings. Mahoney drove in sophomore Jamie Jacobs (Billerica, MA) in the first and then WSC used back-to-back RBIs from Besozzi and sophomore Erica Cordio (Leominster, MA) in the second. Cordio’s opportunity came in the form of a squeeze bunt play.

Behind Mahoney’s effort in the circle, the Blue and Gold tallied five runs in the final two frames to end the contest with the eight-run rule. Roy notched a two-run single in the fourth and then Kerr and freshman Melissa Beaudry (Worcester, MA/St. Peter Marian) drove in consecutive runs in the fifth. Beaudry reached on a double, moved to third on an infield single and she scored the game clinching run on a wild pitch.

First-year right hander Paige Needham (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) was tagged with the complete-game loss. Needham is now 4-10 on the season.

In the second contest, both teams would combine for five homers. Becker junior Felicia Laufer (Salem, CT) led off the game with her fourth homer of the year, but the lead was short lived as WSC plated four runs in the bottom of the first. Cordio jacked out a solo homer to tie the game and Kerr knocked out a two-run dinger to cap off the scoring in the inning.

The two squads would trade runs over the next inning before Worcester State used a six-run rally to take a commanding 11-2 lead. Mahoney started the barrage with a solo homer and then the Lancers took advantage of three Hawk miscues to score the runs. WSC was highlighted by RBIs by Howe and Besozzi and then both players scored on a wild throw by the shortstop that sailed into right field as she tried to get Howe at second.

Laufer hammered a two-run homer in the top of the fifth, but Worcester State ended the game in the bottom of the frame on a two-run single by junior Kaitlyn Laflash (Northbridge, MA).

Cordio and Laflash recorded two hits for the Lancers in the nightcap as Kerr and Laflash drove in two. Laufer went 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBIs.

Sophomore right hander Marcy Rumrill (Orange, MA) earned the triumph as she went the first three innings. Rumrill (4-3) was finished off by Beaudry who pitched the last two frames. The duo allowed four runs off of six hits as they punched out six and yielded one walk. Rumrill also had three wild pitches.

Second-year right hander Jessica Lewis (Bellingham, MA) shouldered the setback as her record drops to 4-10. Lewis only went 2 1/3 innings allowing 10 runs (3 earned) as Needham came into the game in the third completed the contest for Lewis. In 10 innings, Becker pitching struck out four, issued three free passes and gave up six wild pitches.

Both teams will face conference opponents with twin bills on Saturday afternoon. Worcester State entertains Framingham State in the first game at the new Rockwood Park with second-place on the line in the MASCAC in a noontime affair while the Hawks head to Southern Vermont for a 1 PM first pitch.