Falcons Drop Pair Of Non-Conference Games To Lancers

Grass paces Green and Gold with four doubles

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University softball team dropped a pair of non-conference contests to the Lancers of Worcester State University this afternoon at the Donna Lee Withington Memorial Field by the scores of 7-1 and 6-3

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 1, Worcester State 7 (Game One)

Score: Fitchburg State 3, Worcester State 6 (Game Two)

Records: Fitchburg State (9-11) I Worcester State (9-12-1)

How It Happened

Game One

Worcester State opened the scoring in the top of the first as freshman Emily Bartlett (Lowell, Mass.) connected on her first collegiate home run, launching it over the right center field fence for the 1-0 advantage.

The Lancers upped their lead in the second frame when newcomer Lauren Dube (Leominster, Mass.) singled through the right side, moved to second on walk by classmate Angelise Moss (Strafford, N.H.) before fellow freshman Grace Adams (Leominster, Mass.) connected on a two-run single through the right side to make the score 3-0.

The visitors upped the advantage to 7-0 in the third innings, highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of Adams, while Dube added an RBI single and sophomore Rachel Sinclair (Westminster, Mass.) notched a sacrifice

Fitchburg State cut the deficit to 7-1 in the bottom of fourth with sophomore Molly Grass (Rockland, Mass.) doubled to center and would come around to score following a sacrifice bunt from freshman Dana Cisowski (Torrington, Conn.) and a throwing miscue.

Inside the Numbers

• Grass led the way for the Falcons, going 1-for-3 with a double and one run scored
• Adams paced the Lancers, hitting 2-for-4 with a triple and four RBI's
• Senior Taylor Colvin (Lancaster, Mass.) took the loss for Fitchburg State, yielding seven runs (5 earned) on nine hits with one K
• Bartlett picked up the win for Worcester State, giving up one unearned run on two hits and eight strikeouts in the complete game effort

Game Two

In the second game on the day, the Lancers grabbed a 2-0 edge in the top of the first when graduate student Samantha Stake (Worcester, Mass.) singled, stole second and crossed the plate on a base hit by junior Rachel Bigelow (Westborough, Mass.), who would eventually score as well following fielding miscue.

The Falcons cut into the lead in the bottom of the second as sophomore Sarah Cahill (Mansfield, Mass.) reached a fielding miscue, advanced to second on a groundout and scored on an RBI double to center from Grass to make the score 2-1.

Worcester State extended the margin (3-1) in the top half of the third with Stake reaching on a leadoff single, moved to second and third on a sacrifice bunt and fly out before coming home an RBI single off the bat of freshman Brynna Meeker (Northwood, N.H.).

Trailing 4-1 in the fourth, the Green and Gold responded when newcomer Lauren Kirkconnell (Dayville, Conn.) and sophomore Madison Mantegani (Bellingham, Mass.) registered back-to-back singles, while newcomer Allison Pogorek (Millbury, Mass.) laced a single to left that brought home Kirkconnell to make the score 4-2.

Fitchburg State continued to chip away at the lead (4-3) as Grass blasted a double into the right center field gap, advanced to third a passed ball and scored on a run scoring double to center from Cisowski.

The Lancers answered back in the top of the seventh with Bigelow bringing Stake, who doubled to center with an RBI triple to right center before Bigelow came home on a wild pitch, resulting in the 6-3 final.

Inside the Numbers

• 88th meeting between the two teams in softball with the Falcons 28-60 vs the Lancers
• Grass was solid for Fitchburg State again, finishing 3-for-4 with three doubles, one run scored and an RBI
• For Worcester State, Bigelow batted 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBI and two runs scored
• Junior Hayley O'Brien (Lynnfield, Mass.) suffered the setback for the Falcons, allowing six runs (4 earned) on eight hits with a pair of punch outs in seven innings of work
• Junior Jen Thorburn (Groton, Mass.) collected the win for Worcester State, giving up three runs (2 earned) on nine hits and six strikeouts over seven innings pitched

Up Next

Falcons will host the Bears of Bridgewater State on Friday for a MASCAC double header, starting at 2:00 PM. Lancers return to action on Friday as well when they host the Rams of Framingham State for a conference twin billing with a 4:00 PM first pitch.