Softball Splits On Second Day Of Florida Trip With Luther And UMass Boston

Clermont, FL --- Worcester State drew a split this afternoon at the NTC Softball complex dropping a 15-0 decision in five innings to nationally-ranked Luther before rebounding with a solid 13-7 triumph over UMass Boston.

In the second game, the Lancers (3-1) erased an early deficit after sophomore Jillian Witkowski (Leicester, MA) sliced a two-run single to right center in the top of the second to take over a 2-1 edge.

Two frames later, senior Taylor Hanley (Wilmington, MA) ignited another rally with an RBI double to the deep part of centerfield before sophomore Mary McKeown (Shrewsbury, MA) followed with a run producing base-knock to put the Blue and Gold up 4-1 in the fourth.

Ahead 4-2 entering the top of the sixth, the Worcester State offense exploded and batted around scoring nine runs in the stanza.

Sophomore Courtney Salisbury (Cranston, RI), classmate Rachel Couto (Chelmsford, MA) and junior Hayley Terry (N. Dighton, MA) all had run producing at-bats while senior Katie Storro (Leominster, MA) added a pinch-hit two-run single down the left field line

UMass Boston (1-2) came right back by making four trips to home plate by stinging together five hits in seven at-bats and another score on a miscue by the pitcher.

The Beacons pitched a scoreless seventh and threatened to score again with runners on first and second in the bottom of the same half inning. But senior Meghan Rich (Chelmsford, MA) ended the contest with a ground-out.

Rich (2-0) earned her second consecutive victory in relief. She tossed five innings allowing six runs (five earned) on 11 hits to go with one strikeout. Rich did not allow a free pass.

Couto, Terry, Witkowki and freshman Danielle Cacciola (Tewksbury, MA) all finished with two hits apiece as eight of the nine starters scored at least one run or had a base-knock.

Interestingly, both squads were tied in the hitting column at 13 each.

In the opener against Luther (11-0), the sophomore Annie Versnik (Franklin, WI) hurled a one-hit shutout with two strikeouts.

She surrendered the lone-hit to Storro in the top of the first and the only other runner to reach base was Hanley, who reached on a misplayed fly-ball by the right fielder.

From the third inning on, Versnik set down her final nine batters, including six by way of ground out.

Sophomore Kayla Humphrey (Wallingford, CT) was dealt the loss. Humphrey fell to 1-1 on the year.

Luther entered the week ranked ninth in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 Division III poll.

Tomorrow the Lancers will continue their spring break trip with two games at Hancock Park starting with Southern Maine at 1 PM before taking on Macalester in a 3 PM matchup.