Softball Splits With Brandeis In Non-Conference Twinbill

Waltham, MA --- Worcester State edged Brandeis, 4-3, in the opener before the Lancers fell 2-0 in the final contest. Sophomore Mary McKeown (Shrewsbury, MA) went the distance to earn her second victory of the campaign for WSU in the opener.

With the split, the Lancers record now sits at 12-4 overall while the Judges are 9-11 on the campaign.

McKeown gave up three earned runs while scattering nine hits in seven innings of work and she fanned three.

Worcester State jumped on the board in the top of the third when freshman Samantha Rivers (Leicester, MA) hit a solo homer for the first of her career.

 Brandeis responded in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI double by freshman Amanda Shore (San Jose, CA) to drive in sophomore Allison Hecht (Melville, NY), who was hit by a pitch to start off the frame.  

The visitors broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the sixth when senior Taylor Hanley (Wilmington, MA) delivered a bases-clearing two-bagger to take over the three-run advantage.

The hosts tried one last rally in the bottom of the seventh by stringing together some late hits. With sophomore Leah Shapiro (Beverly Hills, CA) and junior Madison Gagnon (Westlake Village, CA) on first and second, senior Anya Kamber (Sammamish, WA) lifted a two-run single to make it a 4-3 contest.

After McKeown set down the next batter on a line-out, Hecht hit the potential game-winning hit into the outfield, but Kamber was gunned down by junior Sara Pelletier (Leominster, MA), who fired a laser beam to end the contest.

In addition to leading 9-5 in total base-knocks, Kamber went 3-for-4 for Brandeis and senior Cori Coleman (Burr Ridge, IL) finished with a pair of singles. WSU did not have any multi-hitters.

Sophomore Samantha Wrobelwski (Delray Beach, FL) absorbed the setback in the circle. She fanned six over her seven frames while she allowed four earned runs on five hits to go with three walks.

Senior Nikki Cote (Shelton, CT) was dominant in the nightcap for the Judges as she tossed a one-hit shutout to improve her record to 2-0. Cote rung up six on strikes and she yielded a trio of bases on balls.

WSU sophomore Rachel Couto (Chelmsford, MA) had the lone hit and the only one for extra bases in the second game with a one-out double in the top of the fourth.

After issuing a walk in the same frame, Cote set down her last 10 batters. 

Brandeis pushed across both of their runs in the fourth on a fielder's choice bunt by Shore and an RBI ground out by Schapiro.

Freshman Julie Melanson (Gardner, MA) suffered the tough luck loss for the Lancers. Melanson (1-2) yielded two earned runs to go with seven base-knocks. Melanson also struck out one.  

Worcester State pitching did not allow a free pass in either of the games of today's doubleheader.

Both squads will play again on Tuesday. The Lancers take on Fitchburg State in a MASCAC twin bill with a first pitch slated for 3 o'clock on the road while the Judges travel south to Newport where they will play Salve Regina twice starting at 4 PM.

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