Softball Draws Split Against Southern Maine and Amherst

Winter Garden, FL --- Freshman Courtney Salisbury (Cranston, RI) and sophomore Taylor Hanley (Wilmington, MA) combined for five hits in the series opening 4-1 victory over Southern Maine before the Worcester State dropped a 9-1 decision to Amherst in five innings in non-conference softball action at Foundation Academy.

The Lancers (2-3) went up 1-0 early in the first contest over the Huskies (2-9) in the top of the second. First-year Mackenzie Crumley (Fall River, MA/Durfee) scampered home when the third baseman tried to get an out at second trying to turn a double play.

The contest remained the same until the Blue and Gold registered a trio of unearned runs in the sixth inning. Freshman Kayla Humphrey (Wallingford, CT) notched an RBI single and Hanley also highlighted the outburst with a two-run single.

Humphrey (1-1), who was in the circle, did give up a run in the bottom of the sixth, but retired the top of the order in a 1-2-3 frame to help seal up the victory. She went the last five frames giving up four hits, one unearned run and two walks to go with a trio of strikeouts.

WSU held the 6-5 margin in base-knocks in the opener.

Freshman Marissa Avanzato (Pittsfield, MA) started the contest and she hurled two scoreless one-hit stanzas for the Lancers.

Salisbury was 3-for-4 in the contest in the lead-off spot while Hanley was 2-for-2 with two RBIs in the number nine hole.

In the nightcap, WSU made it a 3-1 contest by notching a single run in the bottom of the first. Salisbury led off the game with a walk and after she swiped second, she scored on a plated double by sophomore Hayley Terry (N. Dighton, MA).

But the Lady Jeffs scored six more times over the next two innings to take over the commanding 9-1 advantage. Senior Amy Doering (Branchburg, NJ) also set down 10 of her last 11 through the fourth inning to blank the Lancer offense.

Sophomore Sara Pelletier (Leominster, MA) and Hanley recorded back-to-back safeties as Salisbury helped load the bases with one out reaching on four balls against reliever junior Caroline Sealander (Washington, DC). But Sealander fanned the next batter and ended the contest on a fielder's choice at third base.

Second-year Meghan Rich (Chelmsford, MA) shouldered the setback for the Lancers in the loss. Rich (1-1) over four innings as she allowed six earned runs on nine hits to go along with three punch outs and one free pass.

WSU was outhit in the second game 11-4 as there were no multi-hitters.

The Lancers close out their spring training trip with a 9 AM matchup with NESCAC opponent Bowdoin and a 11 o'clock contest against SUNY Genesco.