Lancers Softball Fall to Owls in Conference Opener

Worcester, MA- With their return back to New England complete from Spring Break the Lancers Softball team (4-8, 0-0) started off their conference season this afternoon as they took on Westfield in a conference rivalry game to start the MASCAC season.

Final

Worcester State: 1

Westfield State: 10

How it Happened:

 Worcester would have a slow start in the first game of the double header versus the Owls as they attempted to work the batters and the field to build momentum. Westfield would strike first with a run in the bottom of the second after both teams made quick work of the first.

The Owls would take on another three runs for the 4-0 lead in the fourth before the Lancers answered back at the top of the fifth. Senior Bailey Tammaro (Fitchburg, MA) would work the count for a lead off walk and find second on sacrifice bunt by junior Cali Brouillard (Millbury, MA). A senior Amanda Adamuska (Dudley, MA) would capitalize off a bobble by the left fielder to not only reach first but claim second while Tammaro recorded a run for Worcester. Westfield locked in after the flub, forcing Worcester to leave the runner stranded. The Owls would claim a run back at the bottom of the inning.

Worcester would look to work their way back into striking distance in the second but were unable to build the chances off their single hit providing Westfield the opening to close the game out in the sixth with three runs for the 10-1 win.

Final

Worcester State: 1

Westfield State: 4

How it Happened:

The Lancers were laser focused for game two, but were unable to find solid connection against the Westfield defense. Both teams would have quiet opening innings scoring while the Lancers accounted for four hits through the top of the third. The bottom of the inning found Westfield capitalize on a lucky runner on to work the bases and with just a single hit claim the 1-0 lead. 

The top of the fifth would find the scoring success again. Tammaro would again get things going for Worcester with a bunt that would find a runner in base. Brouillard would follow it up with a second bunt that added a second base runner and with each claiming the corners. Brouillard would use the quick feet to move to second as Adamuska dropped another perfect bunt that placed her at first and Tammaro across for a run. The Lancers would look to further capitalize but a pop up and a fielder's choice would bring the at bats to a close with the game settled at 1-1.

While senior Emma Lapoint (Westfield, MA would claim contact in the sixth it was not enough to break the stalemate and something Westfield jumped in in the bottom of the sixth as they used some fielding glitches and solid contact to take the lead at 4-1 with three runs accrued.

Worcester State would not back down from the fight as senior Bella Gasbarro (Leominster, MA) would use a fielding error to get a runner on early. A fielder's choice would swap the runner on first as Worcester attempted to work the bases, but a pop up and a ground out would spoil the Lancers chances as they fell 4-1 to the Owls.

First year Taylor Stuart (Sterling, MA) would go for six innings, allowing just one earned run and a strikeout.

What's Next:

Worcester State (4-10, 0-2) is back on the home diamond on Tuesday as they host Clark University in a rescheduled away moved home meeting with the Cougars at 4pm.