Westfield State Defeats Softball, 3-1, In Opening Round Upset

Worcester, MA --- Owls freshman Breanna Bisceglia (Worcester, MA/Burncoat) hit a two-run double to break a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth inning to help lead #4 Westfield State to a 3-1 upset over top-seeded Worcester State in the opening round of the MASCAC softball tournament this evening at Rockwood Park. 

Both teams will continue in the double-elimination tournament on Saturday.  The Owls (20-18) will play second-seeded Bridgewater State at 2 PM in the winner's bracket, while the Lancers (21-18) will take on #3 Salem State at noon in the losers set with both games held at Rockwood Park. 

The Bears defeated the Vikings, 4-0, earlier today in Bridgewater.

With the score tied at 0-0 in the top of the fourth inning, senior Kerin DeGirolamo (North Attleboro, MA) hit a single through the right side with one out to begin the Owls rally.  The next batter, sophomore Bri Eichstaedt (Chicopee, MA), reached on ball that was dropped by the third baseman after the shortstop ran into her.

Owls freshman Vicki Hill (West Springfield, MA) then hit a single up the middle in the next at-bat, but Lancers sophomore Carolyn Hassett (Charlton, MA) gunned out DeGirolamo at home for the second out of the frame and her 10th outfield assist this season.

But Bisceglia stepped up to the plate for the visitors and ripped a line-drive down the left field line to score both Eichstaedt and Hill to give the Owls the 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Lancers had a chance to respond with runners on second and third and two outs, but senior Madeline Tomich (Alford, MA) got a key strikeout to end the threat.

The Owls added an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning to move ahead 3-0 as Hill hit an RBI-three bagger to right center that scored DeGirolamo. 

The Blue and Gold plated their only run of the contest in the bottom of the sixth.  Hassett led off the inning with a double, off the left-field fence and scored an unearned run on the next play after Lamoureux reached on a fielding error. 

After the lone Worcester State run crossed the plate, Tomich retired the final six batters in a row to end the game – including five by way of strikeout and the side in order in the seventh. 

Tomich (11-8) worked the corners as she went the distance and an unearned run on two hits.  She tied a season high with 15 strikeouts while only issuing one free pass. 

Lancers junior Hannah Everson (Methuen, MA) also pitched a complete game as she scattered six hits and allowed three runs (one earned).  Everson had 11 punch-outs and she walked no one. 

DiGirolamo and Hill had the only multi-hit games as they both went 2-for-3 with one run scored. 

With her performance at the plate this evening, DiGirolamo's two base-knocks eclipsed Westfield State's all-time career hits record as she now stands at 158 for her outstanding four-year career. She passed Jackie Mason who had 156 safeties from 2006-09.

The Owls held the 6-2 edge in the hitting department. Senior Ashley Howe (Winchendon, MA) broke up Tomich's no-hit bid in the fourth with a single up the middle to put runners at second and third.