WORCESTER, Mass. - The Worcester State University softball team suffered a pair of defeats at the hands of Salem State University in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference play Friday evening at Raymond Diamond. The Vikings prevailed 4-0 in game one and 5-3 in game two.
With the losses, Worcester State drops to 1-8-1 on the season and 0-3-1 in the MASCAC. Salem State improves to 2-2 and 2-0 in league play.
Because the conference doubleheader scheduled for Thursday at Salem State was postponed due to weather, Salem State was the designated home team for the twinbill and batted second.
Game 1: Salem State 4, Worcester State 0
Sophomore pitcher Grace DuBois (Newton, N.H.) was the story of game one, completely silencing the Worcester State bats from start to finish. She allowed just four hits in the complete game victory while striking out six.
A reach-on-error from Mikayla Porcaro (Amesbury, Mass.) opened the scoring for the Vikings in the bottom of the third inning, and an inning later, and RBI single from Rebecca Walker (Lynn, Mass.) and RBI groundout from Gracie Hogan (Northbridge, Mass.) extended the lead to 4-0.
In the bottom of the sixth, Sydney Chiasson (Hudson, Mass.) recorded an RBI single of her own to add some insurance and secure the victory for Salem State.
Senior Liv Larson (Marlborough, Mass.) took the loss, despite allowing no earned runs and just two hits over three innings. Freshman Emily Bartlett (Lowell, Mass.) struck out six in three innings in relief.
Game 2: Salem State 5, Worcester State 3
Worcester State was unable to hold on to a late two-run lead as the Vikings came from behind to earn the sweep.
Senior Ally Tocman (Shrewsbury, Mass.) opened the scoring with a lead-off solo home run to straightaway center in the top of the second inning. The dinger was the first of her collegiate career. A fielding error from Worcester State in the bottom of the frame, however, evened the score back up at 1-1.
The score was still tied in the top of the fifth, when freshman Brynna Meeker (Northwood, N.H.) put Worcester State back on top by drawing a bases-loaded walk. A batter later, graduate student Samantha Stake (Worcester, Mass.) pushed Worcester State's lead to 3-1 with an RBI fielder's choice.
A four-run bottom of the sixth for Salem State, however, dashed Worcester State's hopes of earning a split in the doubleheader. With the bases loaded and one out, Chiasson tied the score with a double to left field, followed by an RBI groundout from Hogan and an RBI single from Porcaro to give the Vikings a two-run edge.
Worcester State was unable to muster any offense in the top of the seventh, and the game ended with a 5-3 final.
Junior Jen Thorburn (Groton, Mass.) took the loss for Worcester State in the circle, allowing five earned runs on eight hits over six innings. Freshman Sierra Ricci (Greene, R.I.) earned her first collegiate win for Salem State, throwing three innings in relief.
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