WORCESTER, Mass. - The Worcester State University softball team split a pair of non-conference contests with Bridgewater State University on Saturday at Raymond Diamond.
Worcester State won game one by a final of 9-3, before the visitors took game two 12-7 in eight innings.
With the split, Worcester State jumps to 1-6-1, while Bridgewater State moves to 2-1-1.
Game 1 - Worcester State 9, Bridgewater State 3
Worcester State's bats came alive in game one with their highest offensive output of the season to lift the Lancers to their first win.
After a Grace Adams (Leominster, Mass.) triple to lead off the bottom of the first inning, Worcester State drew first blood on a Samantha Stake (Worcester, Mass.) sacrifice fly to right field, putting Worcester State ahead 1-0.
Bridgewater State tied the score on a Madelyn Klingel RBI single in the top of the third, but Worcester State responded with three in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore Rachel Sinclair (Westminster, Mass.) drove in a pair with a bases-loaded double to right center, before Lauren Dube (Leominster, Mass.) extended the lead to 4-1 with an RBI single.
Madison Synan got one run back for the Bears in the top half of the fourth with a solo home run, but the Lancers put up a five-spot in the bottom of the inning to all but put the contest out of reach. An Emily Bartlett (Lowell, Mass.) two-run double highlighted the five-run frame.
Madison Dana hit a solo shot in the top of the sixth inning for the Bears to cut the deficit to 9-3, but it would prove far too little too late as the Lancers were able to slam the door shut to earn win number one.
Bartlett picked up her first career win in the circle, allowing three earned on five hits with five strikeouts. Jen Thorburn (Groton, Mass.) came on in relief and threw two shutout innings to preserve the victory.
Game 2 - Bridgewater State 12, Worcester State 7 (8 innings)
Despite every starter recording at least one hit in the contest, Worcester State was unable to finish off the sweep as Bridgewater took the contest to extra innings to defeat the hosts.
The lead changed hands four times in the first five innings of the contest, and neither team was able to take firm control of the momentum. After Sinclair's second RBI single of the game knotted the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the fifth innings, the two defenses settled in and the game went to extra innings.
Bridgewater State completely took over the reigns in the top of the eighth inning, scoring seven times to take a commanding 12-5 lead. The final nail in the coffin was a three-run home run from Synan that all but sealed the deal.
Dube and Adams each recorded RBI singles in the bottom of the inning, but the Lancers were unable to mount the comeback.
Thorburn took the loss for the Lancers, striking out four over 7.1 innings. Reliever Kelley Reichert got the win for Bridgewater State, throwing five innings and allowing just two earned without issuing a walk.
Worcester State will be back in action on Thursday with a MASCAC doubleheader against Salem State. First pitch in game one is slated for 5 p.m.
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