Trailblazers belt pair of homers in tenth, advance to MASCAC title game tomorrow

Worcester, MA- Trailblazers' Amanda Meczywor and Rachel Quackenbush both belted two run homers in the tenth inning as second seeded MCLA outlasted top seeded Worcester State 8-4 and advanced to the MASCAC Championship round tomorrow at 11am.  The Lancers will play Salem State in an elimination game this afternoon.

The Trailblazers and Lancers each went extra frames yesterday to advance to the winners bracket game, however MCLA came up clutch with key hits.  Using the international tiebreaker, the Trailblazers began the inning with a runner on second.  A groundout advanced a runner to third and eventually Angelica Perfido scored on a wild pitch.

Meczywor then drilled a two out home run to center field to extend to a 6-3 lead.  Following a groundout and an Alex Romano double, Quackenbush would connect on a two run homer to left center field pushing the lead to 8-4.

Worcester wouldn't go quietly in the bottom half of the frame as they pushed across the courtesy runner and loaded the bases with two outs bringing the tying run to the plate in the form of Taylor Hanley.  Quackenbush, who earlier relieved Meczywor, caught her looking and sent MCLA to the title game tomorrow.

MCLA led early as they scored a pair of runs in the fourth inning off Worcester starting pitcher Meghan Rich.  Angelica Perfido drilled an RBI single and Meczywor followed suit for an early 2-0 advantage.  

Worcester would cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the frame on an unearned run forcing Quackenbush to enter the game in relief of Meczywor.  The junior threw all 15 innings just a day earlier and spelled the rally keeping it 2-1.

MCLA tacked on another run on another Perfido single to extend to 3-1, however Worcester immediately responded with a two run outburst in the bottom of the fifth.  The key blow was Rachel Couto single to right center knotting the game at 3-3.

The game would stay that way to the tenth inning as Quackenbush and Worcester's Kayla Humphrey kept the offenses at bay.

Quackenbush threw another 98 pitches in earning the win as she moves to 9-8 on the season.  She allowed three runs, however none were earned and struck out 6 Lancers.  Meczywor went the first 3.2 innings allowing just the one run.  

Quackenbush went 2-4 at the plate and drove in a pair of runs.  Perfido also collected two hits and two RBI.  Meczywor went 3-5 and drove in a team best 3 runs.

For the Lancers, Humphrey was saddled with the loss tossing the final 6 innings, allowing 5 runs.  Couto finished the day with 3 hits and 2 RBI for Worcester State.  Sara Pelletier added a pair of safeties, as did Samantha Rivers.