Lancers Finishes as MASCAC Finalists in Extra Inning Battle with Owls

Worcester, MA- After solidifying their return trip to the MASCAC on Friday, the Worcester State Softball team (25-15, 13-3) headed back to Westfield State for the MASCAC Championship. With one loss already on their docket Worcester would look to claim game one on the day to extend the series to two games to repeat at MASCAC Champions.

Final- 9 Innings

Worcester State: 0

Westfield State: 1

How it Happened: 

It was a straight pitchers duel in game one as Junior Peyton Maloney (West Boylston, MA) would look to outlast the Owls pitching staff. Each team managed to record a few hits through the opening six innings of action, but the game would remain scoreless into the seventh.

Senior Carissa Andrews (Medford, MA) would get on base and steal second in a bid to get a run to secure some control in the top of the inning. A senior Bailey Tammaro (Fitchburg, MA) bunt would advance her to third with just an out left in play before the Owls would look for their chances, but an unlucky pop up would move the game into the bottom as the Lancers defense would aim to hang tight to get another chance in the eighth.

The Lancers defense would be quick on their feet for Westfield's at bat, nabbing a line drive to senior Morgan Keefe (Dracut, MA) and with a runner on first made quick work of grabbing the out at first on a bunted ball for out number two. A second bunt would place Owls runners at the corners but a fly out would provide Worcester extra life.

Senior Emma LaPoint (Westfield, MA) would rocket a ball down the left field line to put a runner on with a single out to Worcester at the start of extra innings but two infield pops would neutralize their advantage and shift the focus back to the defense. LaPoint would step up big for the first out, as a blistering driver required her full body to settle the ball and claim the out at first. An outfield error would allow a runner on for Westfield but Keefe and Tammaro would snagged two popped balls to move the game to the ninth.

While Worcester would give it their all in the ninth for a run, the Owls managed to force three ground outs and came away with a dropping double and a single to left to cross the single run of the game.

Worcester wraps up their season at 25-16 and finishes as MASCAC Championship finalists.