Worcester State Sweeps Fitchburg State

Falcons blanked 2-0 in game one; fall 7-1 in game two

FITCHBURG, Mass. (April 14, 2009) - The Fitchburg State softball team was swept by MASCAC foe Worcester State College this afternoon at Coolidge Park. The Lancers out-dueled the Falcons in game one, 2-0 before winning the nightcap 7-1.

Worcester State 2, Fitchburg State 0

Worcester State senior Ashley Nye (Marion, Mass./Old Rochester) and sophomore Ashley Loomer (Pepperell, Mass./North Middlesex) led the Lancer game one charge, combining for two hits and one RBI, while Lauren Besozzi (Milford, Mass./Milford) added a single and one run scored. Sophomore Meghan Callahan (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford) and freshman Amanda Quin (Townsend, Mass./North Middlesex) aided the Fitchburg State offense with one hit apiece.

The Lancers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top half of the first, as Nye connected for an RBI single to plate Besozzi. Fitchburg State threatened in the bottom of the frame as Leigh Trzcinski (Worcester, Mass./South) and Callahan registered back-to-back base knocks with one down, but Worcester State southpaw Michaela Mahoney (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) retired the next two hitters to work out of the jam. The Lancers added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on an RBI double by Loomer.

Mahoney (5-5) hurled a complete game, three-hit shutout for the Lancers, pitching seven strong innings, while striking out five. Freshman Allison Cousins (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) took the loss for the Falcons allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits, and striking out six.

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Worcester State 7, Fitchburg State 1 

LAUREN DONELL

In the nightcap, Worcester State pounded out 12 hits as sophomore Karen Feeley (W. Springfield, Mass./W. Springfield) ignited the Lancers offense with a 2-for-4 performance and three RBI. Classmate Kaitlyn Laflash (Northbridge, Mass./Northbridge) was also solid, hitting 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. 

Sophomore Lauren Donell (Ayer, Mass./Ayer) paced the Fitchburg State offense, finishing with a 2-for-3 day, while senior Heather Bachinski (Northfield, Mass./Pioneer Valley) chipped in with a pair of stolen bases and one run scored.                                                                                  

Worcester State got on the board early again, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a two run single by Feeley. Fitchburg State cut the deficit to 3-1 in the bottom of the third as Bachinski swiped two bases and scored on a throwing error, but the Lancers rallied for three runs in the fifth to secure its second victory of the day.

Mahoney (6-5) picked up her second win of the day, allowing one run on five hits and striking out seven. Cousins (2-11) picked up the loss for the Falcons, pitching in her second game of the day as well. Cousins yielded seven runs (six earned) on 12 hits, while walking one and striking out two.

Fitchburg State (4-22, 1-7 MASCAC) returns to action on Saturday as it travels to Bridgewater State College at 12 p.m. Worcester State (6-13-1, 3-3 MASCAC) returns to action tomorrow when they host WPI for a non-conference doubleheader at 5 p.m.

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