Lancers Softball Splits with Mammoths in Midweek Battle

Worcester, MA- In the final non conference road trip of the regular season the Worcester State Softball team (20-13, 11-3) headed west to take on the Mammoths of Amherst College in a double header set.

Final

Worcester State: 5

Amherst: 4

How it Happened:

 A pitching duel in game one, behind first year Taylor Stuart (Sterling, MA) would see both teams remain scoreless through the first two innings. The Mammoths would manage to finally find a gap in the bottom of the third as they forced across a single run.

The top of the fourth found senior Bailey Tammaro (Fitchburg, MA) doubling to left center to find fellow seniors Bella Gasbarro (Leominster, MA) and Morgan Keefe (Dracut, MA) scoring for the 2-1 lead. Amherst would answer in the bottom of the inning with two runs of their own.

The fifth found Keefe with a double of her own to score Gasbarro and senior Amanda Adamuska (Dudley, MA) for the 4-3 lead followed by an Amherst error to bring Keefe across for a 5-3 Lancer edge. Amherst would try to settle the score in the bottom of the sixth but would only manage to come away with a single run for a 5-4 score.

Each team would aim to add runs in the seventh but the defense on both ends would lock it down, with Worcester claiming the 5-4 game one victory.

Stuart would go four innings in the action with a strikeout before junior Taylor Connan (Grafton, MA) closed it out for the win with a strikeout of her own. 

Final

Worcester State: 5

Amherst: 6

How it Happened:

Game two started off with a bang as Keefe would keep the Lancer double train strong, sending across senior Emma Lapoint (Westfield, MA) and Adamuska for an early 2-0 lead. Keeping the same pace of game one, with the teams trading runs, the Mammoths managed to cut the lead in half at the bottom of the first. 

The bottom of the second saw the Mammoths jump to a 3-2 lead but Worcester was quick to tie it up in the top of the third as Keefe would single to left field for Adamuska to cross home. First year Zoie Steven (Claremont, NH) would provide the lead back off a single to second would cause an error that provided the chance for Lapoint to cross. A second error on Amherst would allow Keefe to race home for a 5-3 lead.

Each team would battle for additional run support but would find no success in the fourth but the bottom of the fifth had Amherst pushing across the tying runs for a 5-5 score into the sixth. Each team looked to crack the tie but it would be the Mammoths in game two who came away with the walkoff win in the seventh.

What's Next:

The Lancers (21-14, 11-3) are back in non-conference action, this time at home, tomorrow as they host a makeup meeting with Rhode Island College in double header action. The first game is set for 4pm.