Worcester State Blanks Fitchburg State

Falcons shutout 5-0 in game one; edged 2-0 in nightcap

WORCESTER, Mass. (April 24, 2012) – The Fitchburg State softball team dropped a set of MASCAC games this evening, falling to Worcester State University 5-0 in game one and 2-0 in game two at Rockwood Park.

Worcester State 5, Fitchburg State 0 (Game 1)

In game one, Worcester State received a strong pitching performance from junior Hannah Everson (Methuen, Mass./Methuen), who tossed a complete game shutout in the Lancers 5-0 victory over the Falcons. Everson improved to 12-5 on the season with the victory as the veteran pitcher scattered eight Fitchburg State hits throughout her seven innings on the rubber (4 K's).

Worcester State took an early lead in this contest with an unearned run in the first inning, but a two-run homerun by Jamie Jacobs (Billerica, Mass./Billerica) in the bottom of the second innings gave the Lancers a 3-0 edge. Worcester State tacked on two more unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth frame with a two-run double from Lauren Besozzi (Milford, Mass./Milford), before giving way to Everson who kept the Falcons off the score board.

Fitchburg State received a two-hit performance from sophomore Marissa Binnall (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg), who finished 2-for-3 with a double, while six others Falcons added one hit apiece. Freshman Brittany Whiting (Sharon, Mass./Sharon) went the distance in the circle for the Falcons, limiting Worcester State to just two earned runs on four hits, while striking out five.

Worcester State 2, Fitchburg State 0 (Game 2)

In game two, Worcester State, again, received a shutout pitching performance this time from freshman Katie Roy (Worcester, Mass./Burncoat), who went the distance for a 2-0 victory. Roy kept Fitchburg State off balance all contest, limiting the Falcons to just seven hits throughout her seven seven inning performance (2 K's).

The Lancers touched for the only runs of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning as Jacobs connected for a two-run single to drive home Everson and junior Aimee Lamoureux (Billerica, Mass./Billerica). That was all the run support Roy would need as the rookie slinger retired the last nine Falcons hitter with just three hits allowed.

Junior Alycia McGrail (N. Brookfield, Mass./N. Brookfield) led Fitchburg State offensively, going 2-for-4 with a pair of singles and two stolen bases, while five other Falcons collected base-hits. In the circle, Whiting again suffered the setback for the Falcons, putting forth her second complete game effort of the day with a two-run, six hit effort (1 K).

Fitchburg State (13-23, 4-8 MASCAC) returns to action on Saturday as it hosts Westfield State at 12 p.m. Worcester State (18-14, 10-2 MASCAC) will host Brandeis on Thursday at 5 p.m.