Lancers Split with Brandeis University in Non-Conference Action

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester State Lancers lost one and won one to split in the doubleheader with the Brandeis University Judges Friday afternoon at Rockwood Park. The Lancers' record moves to 6-9-1 on the season, while the Judges maintain a winning record at 11-10.

GAME ONE: Brandeis 6, Worcester State 2

Brandeis put up the first run of the game in the top of the second inning when Allison Hecht (Stamford, Conn.) reached base after being hit by a pitch. Teammate Madison Hunter (Parker, Colo.) grounded out to the pitcher, advancing Hecht to second. Hecht was able to move to third base following a single by Brandeis' Amanda Shore (San Jose, Calif.). Hecht was able to score on a sacrifice fly from Keri Lehtonen (Oneco, Conn.), advancing the score to 1-0.

Brandeis continued to take the lead ahead of the Lancers in the third inning as Madison Sullivan (Dover, N.H) hit a two-run home run scoring herself and Leah Shapiro (Beverly Hills, Calif.) at the plate to give them the 3-0 advantage.

In the bottom of the third the Lancers struck back, scoring two runs on hits from Rachel Couto (Chelmsford, Mass.), Sydney Despres (Sterling, Mass.), and Taylor Daniels (Norco, Calif.). Cuoto started the Lancers off strong with a base hit through the right side of the field. With two outs, Despres doubled to right-center, advancing Cuoto to third base. Next at bat for the Lancers was Daniels who ripped the ball to right-field, earning three bases and two RBIs. With Daniels' hit, she was able to score Cuoto and Despres home to close the gap to 3-2.

The Judges were able to pull ahead of the Lancers, scoring one run in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, resulting in a 6-2 win over the Lancers.

Worcester State's pitcher, Mary McKeown (Shrewsbury, Mass.) suffered the loss, pitching three innings for the Lancers and allowing four hits. Brandeis' pitcher, Melissa Soleimani (Somerset, Mass.) earned the win pitching a complete game allowing seven hits and only two earned runs.

GAME TWO: Worcester State 6, Brandeis 4

After falling behind 4-3 as the Judges scored three runs in the top of the 4^th inning, the Worcester State Lancers matched the three runs in the bottom of the 5^th to steal away a 6-4 lead to take the win as the game was cut short (six innings) due to lightening in the area.

Brandeis reached the scoreboard in the top of the 1^st when Madison Gagnon (Westlake Village, Calif.) scored Keri Lehtonen (Oneco, Conn.) at the plate on a sacrifice bunt. Though, the Lancers knotted the score at 1-1 in the bottom half of the inning as Kayla Humphrey (Wallingford, Conn.) hit an RBI single to left-center, scoring Dakota Smith-Porter (Montague, Mass.) at the plate.

The Lancers added one run apiece in the bottom of the 2^nd and 3^rd innings to take the 3-1 advantage over the Judges.

However, the Judges came in and stole the lead in the top of the 4^th when Marissa DeLaurentis (Centereach, NY) singled to right field for an RBI, scoring two runs (one unearned) at the plate. Moments later, Jordan Buscetto (Old Lyme, Conn.) hit a sacrifice fly to score in DeLaurentis at the plate, giving the Judges the 4-3 lead.

The Lancers bounced back with three runs of their own in the bottom of the 5^th when back-to-back doubles from Courtney Salisbury (Cranston, RI) and Smith-Porter gave the Lancers' their two winning runs at the plate on hits from Humphrey, Hayley Terry (N. Dighton, Mass.), and Rachel Couto (Chelmsford, Mass.).

Worcester's Humphrey went 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI, while Smith-Porter also marked a perfect batting average going 2-for-2 with an RBI. Terry batted a game-high two runs in as she went 2-for-3 in the batter's box. For the Judges, Gagnon went a perfect 1-for-1 at the plate with an RBI, while Hunter batted .666 (2-for-3) and Buscetto and Liana Moss (Agoura Hills, Calif.) went .500 in game number two.

Worcester's Julie Melanson (Gardner, Mass.) records the win, as she pitched for six innings, giving up four runs (two unearned) on nine hits. For the Judges, Sadie-Rose Apfel (Stamford, Conn.) moves to 3-3 on the season, pitching five innings and allowing six runs on eleven hits.

The Lancers' next game will be on Tuesday (Apr. 5) at Clark University for a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m., as their conference opener against Mass. Maritime (originally scheduled for Saturday) has been postponed to next Sunday (Apr. 10). The Judges resume play on Tuesday, as well, for a non-conference matchup at Framingham State.