Worcester State Wins a Pair in MASCAC Sweep of Salem State

SALEM, Mass. --  Salem State surrendered two games to the Lancers of Worcester State Saturday afternoon, losing game one 9-0 and game two 7-5 in extra innings. The Lancers improve to 18-17-1 and 8-2 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference. Salem State goes to 10-18 and 5-5 with the losses. 

GAME ONE: Worcester State 9, Salem State 0

After a scoreless two innings, Sydney Despres (Sterling, Mass.) put the Lancers on the scoreboard with a two-run-single that brought in Hayley Terry (N. Dighton, Mass.) and Courtney Salisbury (Cranston, RI). Despres advanced to third on the play and was later driven in by Dakota Smith-Porter (Montague, Mass.) with a single.

Meghan Rich (Chelmsford, Mass.) was dealing for the Lancers as she surrendered only seven hits in a complete game shutout. The Lancers added six runs in the seventh inning to supply their ace with enough run support. With the bases loaded, Terry walked, that brought in Haley Scola (Worcester, Mass.) for the first run of the inning. Despres drove in her second RBI as her single brought in Rachel Couto (Chelmsford, Mass.) for a 5-0 lead. Later in the inning, Smith-Porter hit a three-run homerun that enhanced the lead to 9-0. Rich (6-5) was able to secure the 9-0 victory despite allowing two hits in the final inning.  

IIeish Burney (Bristol, Mass.) drew the loss in six innings of work, allowing seven runs on 11 hits. Rachel Cyr (Amesbury, Mass.) pitched one inning as she gave up two runs on three hits. 

Chloe Manousos (Lowell, Mass,) went 3-for-3 for the Vikings despite the 9-0 shutout.  

GAME TWO: Worcester State 7, Salem State 5 (8 innings)

Despres continued to see the ball well in game two as she put the Lancers ahead 2-0 in the first inning with a two-run blast. However, the Vikings answered in the bottom of the inning, taking a 3-2 edge. Krigman and Jess Raymond (Peabody, Mass.) both hit RBI-singles. In addition, Molly McLean(Woburn, MA) picked up an RBI with a fielder's choice.

After a scoreless second inning, Worcester State regained a 4-3 advantage, including another homerun from Despres. Marissa Sanchez (Framingham, MA) knotted the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI-double that scored Cyr.

The Vikings took the lead back in the bottom of the fifth when Gabryanna Cardenas (Oxford, MA) drove in McLean with an RBI-single. However, Smith-Porter tied the game again at 5-5 with an RBI-single of her own that scored Salisbury.

After keeping Salem State off the scoreboard in the sixth and seventh, the Lancers tagged Megan Black (Winchendon, Mass.) for two runs in the eighth inning. In the eighth, Couto and Salisbury each knocked in a run with singles. Kayla Humphrey (Wallingford, Conn.) shut down the Vikings lineup in the bottom of the inning to secure the 7-5 victory to complete the sweep.

Despres went 3-for-4 with two homers and four RBI's

Rich (7-5) earned the win in six innings of work, giving up three runs on 10 hits. Humphrey went two innings, allowing only two hits and no runs. Burney (7-10) went 5.2 innings, giving up two runs of eight hits. Black went 2.1 innings and gave up four earned runs on seven Lancer hits.

The Vikings will take on the Rams of Framingham State for an afternoon doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday.  The Lancers resume action on April 26th when they host MASCAC opponent Fitchburg State Falcons for a double header beginning at 5:00 p.m.

Release Courtesy of Salem State Sports Information