Softball swept in twinbill with Worcester State
Worcester, MA- The MCLA Softball team managed just one hit as the Trailblazers dropped game one of a doubleheader to Worcester State 6-0 this afternoon. The Lancers also took the nightcap winning 8-4. MCLA drops to 6-16 overall and is 2-6 in the MASCAC. The Lancers improve to 14-9 overall and is 6-2 in the conference.
Game One:
Worcester State scored a run in the bottom of the first inning to take the lead. Dakota Smith-Porter's RBI groundout scored Sydney Despres for the early 1-0 lead. In the third, Becky Brandeberry lofted a sacrifice fly to left field scoring Despres again to increase the margin to 2-0.
Meanwhile, MCLA was having trouble mustering any offense against WSU starter Smith-Porter. She allowed just one hit, an Ashley Wilson infield single in the second inning. She retired the last eleven batters she faced to cruise to her fifth victory of the season.
The Lancer offense provided some insurance as an unearned tally in the fifth made it 3-0. They would put the game away with three runs in the sixth. Smith-Porter ripped a bases clearing triple to right field increasing the lead to 6-0. The Trailblazers would go quietly in the home seventh.
The Lancers outhit MCLA 11-1 in the contest. Smith Porter, Kaiulani Ennis, Monica Ferrazzani, Samantha Stake, and Despres all registered two hits on the afternoon.
Samantha Feinstein took the loss for MCLA going the distance.
Game Two:
The Lancers jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings of play. Smith Porter tripled home a run and then came around on an error for a 2-0 first inning advantage. Ashley Lynch singled up the middle driving in two more runs for a 4-0 edge before MCLA mounted a rally.
In the fourth inning, Kara Adams ripped an RBI double to right field and Alanza Quinones reached on an error scoring Adams to pull within 4-2. Nevada Nelsen's RBI hit made it 4-3 and another run came home on an error to tie it up at 4-4 in the sixth.
The Lancers took the lead for keeps in the bottom of the sixth when Kaiulani Ennis homered to center field scoring Samantha Stake for a 6-4 lead. Becky Brandeberry singled home another run and Kaci Panarelli doubled home the final run for an 8-4 advantage. MCLA went quietly in the seventh inning to preserve the win.
The Lancers outhit MCLA 12-7 in the nightcap as Carly Zielinski earned the win out of the Lancer bullpen.
MCLA was paced by Kaitlyn Berghela, Adams, and Nelsen who all had two hits in the loss. Adams was charged with the loss on the mound.
MCLA is back in action tomorrow when they host Bridgewater State at 1pm.