Softball Defeats Keene State To Advance To ECAC Division III Championship

Keene, NH --- Worcester State All-New England senior hurler Hannah Everson (Methuen, MA) tossed a two-hit shutout to help lead seventh-seeded Lancers to a 5-0 triumph over #3 Keene State in the semifinals of the ECAC Division III New England Softball Tournament this morning.

Due to inclement weather the ECAC Division III New England Softball Tournament has been made a single-elimination tournament and the semifinal round, double-elimination format will not be played.

Top-seeded Wheaton will play the Lancers  for the ECAC Division III New England Softball Tournament title tomorrow at 11 AM at Keene State College's Owl Athletic Complex. The Lyons defeated #4 Western New England, 2-0, in the other semifinal.

Everson (11-7) was brilliant as she had a perfect game though five 2/3 innings before allowing KSC freshman Anna Glassman (E. Granby, CT) to reach on a clean single to left. In her fifth shutout of the season and 17th complete game in as many starts, Everson fanned five and did not walk a batter.

The Lancers started broke the scoreless game in the top of the third on an RBI single by freshman Hayley Terry (N. Dighton, MA) with runners on first and second. Junior Aimee Lamoureux (N. Brookfield, MA) then notched her 100th career base-knock on a two-out infield single.

Worcester State put up two more runs to make the score 4-0 in the top of the fifth. With a pair of outs on the board and runners on second and third, freshman pinch runner Sara Pelletier (Leominster, MA) and Lamoreux came around to score a pair of runs on an infield single to second-base that was put in play by senior Alex Kerr (Franklin, MA).

The Blue and Gold tacked on their final run in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Hassett.

Sophomore Katie Newell (Shoreham, NY) shouldered the setback for the Owls. Newell (3-6) allowed five runs (four earned) on 11 hits to go with four punchouts and six walks.

Worcester State senior Kylene Pease (Ashland, MA) was 3-for-5 with a run scored while Hassett, Terry and Lamoreux all chipped in with two base-knocks each.

Sophomore Taylor Hanley (Wilmington, MA) also reached base four times with a pair of walks, one single and she got to first on a fielders choice in the first.

Keene State senior Jessica Fiorenza (Wakefield, MA) had the other saftey for the hosts with a double to left field with one out in the seventh. But Everson  stranded her at the plate to preserve the shutout.