Aimee Lamoureux delivered the winning hit for Worcester State in its MASCAC tournament championship victory over Westfield State, but Lancers coach Jen Kapenas was even more impressed with her sophomore second baseman’s defense during the conference playoffs.

One play in particular stood out. It was early in Worcester State’s first-round game against Salem State and one of the Vikings’ left-handed slap hitters popped up behind the pitcher’s circle. Lamoureux went to her backhand, dove and made the catch.

“It was a game-changer,” Kapenas said. “It set the tone for the rest of the game.”

And the rest of the tournament. The Lancers won three straight games by a combined margin of 17-1 and captured the title and automatic NCAA Division 3 Tournament bid.

Fifth-seeded Worcester State (28-9) will face fourth-seeded Rhode Island College (33-11) at noon tomorrow in regional action at the Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex on the RIC campus. The Anchorwomen swept a doubleheader from Worcester State, 3-2 and 2-1, early in the season.

Lamoureux, a David Prouty High graduate who lives in East Brookfield, transferred to Worcester State in 2010 after a year at Franklin Pierce. She made 31 starts at second base and is batting .327, one of five WSU players hitting better than .300.

In the third inning of the MASCAC final, with the Lancers trailing 1-0 and with two outs, Lamoureux crushed a gapper to right-center, her triple scoring sophomore Carolyn Hassett of Charlton and junior Ashley Howe of Winchendon.

Senior ace Michaella Mahoney of Shrewsbury, the MASCAC Player of the Year, allowed only two more hits the rest of the game and struck out six in the 2-1 win.

“It was awesome,” Lamoureux said. “When I was at the plate, I was just thinking, ‘The next good pitch I’m going to rip it.’ Luckily it found the gap. We knew if we could get a couple of runs, Michaella could hold them.”

Mahoney, who was named MVP of the tourney, is 16-2 with a 1.07 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 117 innings. She’s hitting .402.

Lamoureux has really come on offensively late in the year. In the last seven games, she’s 13-21 (.619) with nine RBIs.

“She started out a little slow with the bat,” Kapenas said. “But she has good speed — we told her, ‘Get on and make things happen.’ She’s been a great addition.”

Transfers Kylene Pease (from St. Anselm) and Hannah Everson (New Haven) have also been key additions. Pease is batting .391, while Everson is 9-3 with a 1.54 ERA.

The Lancers set a single-season program record for wins, and they’ve done it with contributions from everyone. Joining Mahoney on the All-MASCAC team were juniors Erica Cordio of Leominster, Lauren Besozzi of Milford, Howe and Pease. All four were named to the second team.

“It’s a team effort,” said Kapenas. “We don’t win without everybody.”

Kapenas, a 1992 Fitchburg State graduate, served on longtime Worcester State coach Lynne Olson’s staff for six seasons. Olson retired in 2008, but still keeps tabs on the Lancers.

Worcester State, whose only other NCAA appearance came in 1987, has won 12 straight heading into tomorrow’s game.

“Just to be one of the 60 teams in the country to play for the Division 3 national title is an honor,” Kapenas said. “This year is really special.”

RIC senior first baseman Chelsi Panarelli, one of Mahoney’s old teammates at Shrewsbury High, earned All-Little East second-team honors.