Lancers Sweep Final Day of Spring Break Games

Worcester, MA- Following two tight one run games yesterday the Worcester State Softball team (2-6, 0-0) was back in action and looking for vengeance. The Lancers started off their morning with a meeting with McDaniel before closing out their Spring Break facing off with Plymouth State.

Final

Worcester State: 7

McDaniel: 4

How it Happened:

The action would get started quick in game one as junior Taylor Coonan (Grafton, MA) would force grounders for quick outs at first before the Green Terror managed to connect one quick for a one run homer to get a run on the board. The bottom of the first would find the Lancers looking to respond as senior Bella Gasbarro (Leominster, MA) would ding a double to left center to get a lead off runner in base. Senior Amanda Adamuska (Dudley, MA) would assist Gasbarro to third. Senior Morgan Keefe (Dracut, MA) would then complete the plate series with a double to center for a tied up game. Senior Camden Heenan (Webster, MA) would move Keefe to third as Worcester aimed to claim the lead before the final out of the inning, but McDaniel's pitcher locked in to shut down the chance.

While the Lancers would make quick work of McDaniel at the top of the second they pressured the Green Terror in the bottom of the inning. They loaded the bases with the first three batters of Coonan and senior Emma Lapoint (Westfield, MA) and Bailey Tammaro (Fitchburg, MA). A deep out for would lead to the tag up run for Coonan and the 2-1 lead. A dinger to the shortstop by Gasbarro would send Tammaro across home after some clever stolen bases for a 3-1 lead to close out the second inning.

A leaping catch at center by Tammaro kept McDaniel from getting an early runner on in the third and the Lancer fielding stalled any chances. The Lancer bats Saturday in the third as Keefe worked a single under the diving reach of the second baseman for a lead runner. A blooper to second by Heenan quickly found Worcester with two runners threatening. First year Makenzie Roy (Fitchburg, MA) laid down a perfect short bunt to load the bases but McDaniel locked in their defense and worked their way out of the threat. 

Worcester made quick outs in the fourth to again put the pressure on at the bottom of the inning, with two early runners at the corners. A walk on Keefe would again find Worcester with a chance with the bases loaded. A perfect dropped bunt by Heenan sent across junior Cali Brouillard (Millbury, MA) on a sprint at the plate for the 4-1 lead. First year Mackenzie Roy (Fitchburg, MA) would send a sacrifice deep to send in Gasbarro for the fifth run of the game. 

McDaniel found some offensive success in the fifth, scoring three runs to cut Worcester's lead to a single run. Worcester would push the lead out again with the first home run of the season as Tammaro would knock a two run homer over left center for the 7-4 lead into the sixth.

The sixth was quiet for both teams as Worcester held strong through the top of the seventh for the 7-4 win.

Coonan claimed the win, going 4.2 innings in the action while first year Taylor Stuart (Stirling, MA) stepped in to close it out with the save.

Final

Worcester State: 15

Plymouth State: 1

How it Happened:

Game two would see a quiet first inning before the Lancers began their offensive onslaught in the second inning. Errors would allow three Lancers runs to cross home plate as Tammaro found herself on first after a dropped pop up by second. Senior Emma Lapoint (Westfield, MA) scored the first run leading the way for first year Olivia Pirrotta (Uxbridge, MA) on a Gasbarro single up the middle. Sophomore Laurel Field (Holden, MA) would bring Tammaro in for run three to close out the second.

The third would add some additional support for the Lancers as Adamuska charged home from second on a Pirrotta single for the fourth with no outs and two runners still on bags as the Panthers made a pitching change. A quick bunt would load the bases as Tammaro sent first year Anna Diggins (Worcester, MA) four run number four. With bases loaded, Brouillard would single in Pirrotta, while a wild pitch, a hit by pitch and a passed ball would send across Lapoint, Tammaro and Brouillard for the 9-0 lead. The bottom of the inning saw the Panthers threaten with a triple but junior Peyton Maloney (West Boylston, MA) would work with the defense to see no damage done.

The fourth would find Pirrotta and Lapoint on base when Brouillard nearly had a homerun, as it bounced off the top of the fence to send Pirrotta home for run 10. Worcester would load the bases again with Lapoint, Brouillard and senior Carisa Andrews (Medford, MA) when Keefe would nail a double to bring them all across. Adamuska then hit a single advancing to third on an error from the outfield that would allow Keefe to continue home. Diggins would then drill a double to center field for Adamuska to come home and a 15-0 score. 

The shutout was broken in the bottom of the fourth as the Panthers pieced together a partner of hits to force a run across for the 15-1 score. 

The fifth inning would be uneventful for both squads as Worcester completed the sweep on the day.

Maloney had the complete game victory, giving up one run and recording three strikeouts in the win.

What's Next:

The Blue and Gold (4-6, 0-0) are scheduled to be back in action on Tuesday versus Clark University at 3pm.