Softball Draws Split With Framingham State

Framingham State 4, Worcester State 2

Worcester State 4, Framingham State 3 - 8 Innings

Game 1 --- Box Score

Game 2 --- Box Score

Worcester, MA --- Worcester State split a MASCAC doubleheader with Framingham State this afternoon as the Rams defeated the Lancers, 4-2, in the opener before WSC came back to win the second game, 4-3, off the bat of sophomore Erica Cordio (Leominster, MA) in the bottom of the eighth.

The Blue and Gold now stand at 17-13 overall while FSC is 13-17 on the year. The Lancers, the Rams along with Westfield State and Salem State now are in a four-way tie for first place in the MASCAC after the Owls swept the Vikings in earlier conference action.

In the opener, Framingham State junior right hander Andrea DiTerlizzi (Shrewsbury, MA) earned the win to improve her record to 8-6 as she went the distance allowing two runs while scattering nine hits. DiTerlizzi fanned six and walked no one.

WSC third-year left hander Michaella Mahoney (Shrewsbury, MA) shouldered the loss as she yielded four runs (one earned) off five hits in seven innings of work. Mahoney struck out eight and issued no free passes.

Framingham State broke a scoreless game in the top of the third as they took advantage of poor fielding by the Lancers. Senior Megan Dumas (Holden, MA) led off the inning with a single, moved to second on a bunt and got to third on a misplayed sacrifice in the infield

With runners on first and third, DiTerlizzi hit a chopper to the pitcher that drew the catcher out from behind the dish. Dumas saw her chance to score with no one covering home. The Lancers then tried to get the out at the plate, but they were unsuccessful. That put runners on second and third and the Rams took full advantage of the opportunity as sophomore Christy Ulak (Rehoboth, MA) hammered a two-run single for the 3-0 edge.

FSC extended the lead to 4-0 in the top of the fifth as Ulak drove in another run with her second two-bagger.

Worcester State cut the advantage in half when Cordio notched a run producing single in the fifth and junior Kaitlyn Laflash (Northbridge, MA) drove in a run from third on a fielder’s choice.

Mahoney turned in a scoreless sixth and seventh to give the Lancers an opportunity to rally in the bottom of the final inning. Sophomore Stephanie Mullen (Natick MA) led off with a double and classmate Lauren Besozzi (Milford, MA) reached first as the second baseman lost a pop-up in the sun. But DiTerlizzi buckled down and induced a pair of outs to end the contest.

Dumas and Ulak each recorded a pair of hits for Framingham State while Ulak drove in a trio of runs. Cordio, Mahoney and Mullen all tallied two hits for WSC.

In the second game, Worcester State began the contest with the early 2-0 edge as Mahoney jacked a two-run homer in the first.

Framingham State immediately answered in the top of the second and cut the lead in half on a run producing single by first-year Taylor Ezlold (Westfield, MA).

But the Lancers got a run back in the bottom of the third to make the score 3-1 after sophomore Ashley Howe (Winchendon, MA) crossed the plate on a wild pitch. WSC looked poised to score another run with second-year Jamie Jacobs (Billerica, MA) on third, but she was stranded as FSC sophomore right hander Alysia Morrissette (Ware, MA) set down a pair to end the frame.

That set the stage for the Rams to knot the score 3-3 in the top of the fourth. Ulak and sophomore Katie Donovan (Holden, MA) opened the inning with a single and a double off of second-year right hander Marcy Rumrill (Orange, MA). With runners on second and third, Mahoney was summoned into the circle.

Mahoney then allowed a sacrifice fly and an unearned run to cross the plate on a failed pick off attempt by the catcher, but she escaped the inning without any further damage as she set down the last batter with a pop-up.

Both pitchers then put up zeros across the board as the game went into extra innings. Both squads had their chances to score runs, but neither could capitalize on the attempt. The Rams left three in scoring position from the fifth through eighth innings while the Lancers left a pair during that same stretch of time.

Framingham State’s best chance to score the go-ahead run came in the top of the eighth as junior Kasey Phipps (Westford, MA) led off the frame with a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and then got to third on a sacrifice bunt. But Phipps was left on base as Mahoney got Ulak to pop up to end the inning.

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Worcester State finally got to Morrissette as the Lancers notched three consecutive singles capped off by Cordio plating Laflash– who entered the game as a pinch hitter – with a base hit for the walk-off win.

With the loss Morrissette’s record drops to 5-10 while Mahoney is now 11-7. Mahoney hurled five scoreless innings allowing just two hits while she struck out no one and allowed one walk. Morrisette gave up four walks to go along with 11 hits as she punched out five and issued two walks.

Howe, Besozzi and freshman Alex Kerr (Franklin, MA) all registered two hits for WSC while Donovan was the lone multi-hitter for the Rams as she went 2-for-3.

Worcester State opened up Rockwood Park this afternoon as the softball diamond was recently rebuilt with support from the College, the City of Worcester and the state of Massachusetts.

Both teams continue their MASCAC play on Tuesday when Worcester State entertains Fitchburg State at Rockwood in a 5 PM doubleheader while Framingham State hosts Salem State in a twinbill starting at 2:30.