Trailblazers Eliminated from NCAA Tournament in 3-1 loss Vs. WNEC

Williamstown, Mass- Western New England College ended MCLA's season at 15-22 at they were eliminated from the NCAA tournament. WNEC will continue on at 30-8 and face Williams in another elimination game later today.

WNEC's Corianna DeLisi led off the game with a single and advanced to third with two-outs, but MCLA starter Rachel Quackenbush and the MCLA defense stiffened and ended the inning without any damage.

WNEC would threaten again in the third when DeLisi doubled to left-center with one out, but Quackenbush induced a groundout and struck out Gabby Lavini to end the inning.

Lauren Zambrano dominated the Trailblazers through three innings, not allowing a base runner and struck-out seven.

In the fourth inning the Trailblazers Michaela DiNicola worked a ten-pitch walk to lead off the inning and scored on a two-out double to left-center by Amanda Meczywor giving the Trailblazers their first run and first lead of the tournament. Zambrano settled down and got Jennifer Sicinski to ground-out to short to end the inning.

In the fifth it was DeLisi again in the middle of things as her two-out fly ball caused some confusion with DiNicola and left-fielder Katelyn Henault. Henault cut in front of DiNicola, and the ball went off DiNicola's glove for an error. Quackenbush got Samantha Mulhern to groundout and end the threat.

WNEC went to work again in the sixth as Lavini hit her second double of the game leading off. A bloop single by Heather Fecteau put runners on the corners. One-out later Mackenzie Pezze singled to left scoring two and WNEC had the lead. The Golden Bears would tack on another when Zambrano reached on an error scoring Pezze.

The Trailblazers put two on with two out in the bottom of the sixth, but Zambrano caught Meczywor looking to end the rally.

MCLA went quietly in the seventh as Zambrano got De'Nisha Burke to groundout to first to end the season and the Trailblazers first trip to the NCAA's since 1995.

Zambrano was the winner and moves to 18-2 on the season for the Golden Bears. Quackenbush was the tough luck loser as MCLA had three errors and committed some other defensive misplays leading to extra outs for WNEC. Quackenbush did go the distance and allowed three runs (two earned) as she fell to an even 10-10 on the season.

The Trailblazers had one lone senior as Amanda Meczywor played in her final career game this afternoon.