Lancers Comeback Bids Fall Short versus Rams

Worcester, MA- After a week off the diamond the Lancers Softball team (10-9, 1-3) is back in conference action as they journey to Framingham State to take on the Rams in a crucial game for postseason placement. Framingham currently sits atop the conference leader board and Worcester wants to claim the wins to see each team at .500 in the conference at the end of the day.

Final

Game 1

Worcester State: 4

Framingham State: 7

Game 2

Worcester State: 7

Framingham State: 8

How it Happened:

Worcester would open up the scoring first in game one action as senior Emma Lanpher (Charlton, MA) would capitalize on an early walk into base to find the plate again off a passed ball in the first. The Rams would tie up the action at the bottom of the inning and claim a three run lead in the third. Worcester would begin to chip their way back into the action in the fourth as Junior Amanda Adamuska (Dudley, MA) would drill a single to centerfield followed up by a senior Jordan Geloso (Rutland, MA) walk to put two on base early. A junior Carissa Andrews (Medford, MA) triple to center would bring in two runs for Worcester. Lanpher would tie the game up during her at bat as her single would be enough to send Andrews home.

The game would remain settled at 4 all through the fourth but a bottom of the fifth gain by the Rams would see the game move into the sixth with a score of 6-4. The bottom of the sixth would see the Rams extend their lead with a solo homerun forcing the Lancers into a pitching change that would see senior Sarah Gosselin (Charlton, MA) come in to try and lead the Lancers through the 6th inninning and the hopeful to come seventh. The Lancers would have to score three runs as the Rams would line out for the final two outs. Worcester would load the bases in the seventh but after a foul tip and strikeout an attempt by Andrews would put the ball in play that the Rams would successfully corral to get junior Morgan Keefe (Dracut, MA) out at home and that would see the first of the day end 7-4.

The second game of this series would open up with Framingham registering the first run in the first off a two out single and double to claim the 1-0 lead. The Lancers would maintain good plate discipline by not striking out but putting the initial attempts into play for ground outs for just a single hit through two innings. The third would see Worcester tie it up off an error on a sophomore Cali Brouillard (Millbury, MA) attempt that would eventually find her out at second but junior Cam Heenan (Webster, MA) making good use of her early walk to race home with all the action focused on a play at second. The Rams would not allow the Lancers to keep things calm for long, as they would use the bottom of the third to reset the score to 5-1. 

The Lancers would hit two singles and the Rams would opt to make a pitching change at the top of the fifth. This would lead to an impressive rally where the Lancers took the lead as Heenan, Bruillard, Lanpher and Keefe would score before the Rams would elect to make a mid inning pitching change to stop the bleeding and try to sweep this series. Worcester State would add an additional run on a passed ball to the catcher to see senior Abigail Koziol (Lunenburg, MA) extend the Lancers lead before Framingham could record the first out of the inning.

Framingham would again make quick work of the Lancers brief lead in the 5th as they managed to send across three runs to reclaim the lead at 8-7.The Lancers would get one runner on first after a walk in the sixth but they would not be able to do much more during that inning to mount a return to the lead. Worcester would use their chance in the seventh to continue the game and got the tying run on early but the Rams defense worked in concert to hold on to their slim lead and claim the 8-7 game two in.

What's Next:

The Blue and Gold (10-11, 1-5) return to action on Thursday when they journey down to Rhode Island College in a double header series in a makeup of an early season postponement. First pitch is set for 4pm.