Falcons Drop Pair Of Conference Tilts To Lancers

Johnson notches sixth home run of the season

Worcester, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University softball team dropped a pair of Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) games to the Lancers of Worcester State University this evening from the Ralph Raymond Diamond by the scores of 3-0 and 9-1.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 0, Worcester State 3 (Game One)

Score: Fitchburg State 1, Worcester State 9 (Game Two)

Records: Fitchburg State (15-18, 4-8 MASCAC) I Worcester State (18-16, 11-1 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Game One

Worcester State took a 1-0 margin in the bottom of the third when junior Jacqui Schwalm (Billerica, Mass.) singled to center, stole second and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

The Lancers upped their advantage (3-0) in the bottom of the sixth as sophomore Emily Bartlett (Lowell, Mass.), classmate Lauren Dube (Leominster, Mass.) and junior Rachel Sinclair (Westminster, Mass.) all singled to load the bases before senior Jackie Andry (Westford, Mass.) laced a two-run single to right center.

Fitchburg State threatened in the top of the seventh with freshman Julia Gauvin (Granby, Mass.) drawing a lead-off walk, advanced to third on a single from senior Audrey Johnson (Fitchburg, Mass.), but Bartlett was able to retire the next three hitters, resulting in the 3-0 final.

Inside the Numbers

• Johnson led the way for the Falcons, going 1-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base
• For the Lancers, Andrey hit 2-for-3 with two RBI
• Junior Sarah Cahill (Mansfield, Mass.) suffered the setback for Fitchburg State, yielding three runs on 12 hits with two K's in the complete game effort
• Bartlett collected the win for Worcester State, allowing just one hit with 16 strikeouts over seven innings pitched

Game Two

In game two, Worcester State took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first as freshman Emma Lanpher (Groton, Mass.) and sophomore Bryanna Meeker (Northwood, N.H.) singled and scored on a two-run double off the bat of newcomer Abigail Koziol (Lunenburg, Mass.).

Fitchburg State cut the deficit to 2-1 in the top of the second when Johnson blasted a solo home run over the center field fence. The Lancers answered in their half of the second with Schwalm tripling to right center and scoring on sacrifice fly from junior Naraylee Baez (Northborough, Mass.) before senior Ally Tocman (Shrewsbury, Mass.) doubled to left field to bring home Lanpher to make the score 4-1.

Worcester State secured the victory in the bottom of the fifth as senior Molly Glynn (Abington, Mass.) registered a two-run double, while Koziol and Lanpher added RBI's in the frame, resulting in the 9-1 final.

Inside the Numbers

• 90th meeting between the two teams on the softball field with the Falcons 28-62 when taking on the Lancers
• Johnson led the way for Fitchburg State, going 1-for-3 with a home run, one run scored and an RBI
• For Worcester State, Koziol finished 2-of-3 with a double, one run scored and three RBI
• Freshman Stefanie Poulin (East Berlin, Conn.) took the loss for the Falcons, giving up six runs on eight hits and one K in four innings of work
• Senior Jen Thorburn (Groton, Mass.) collected the win for the Lancers, yielding one run on five hits with four strikeouts over six innings pitched

Up Next

Falcons return to action tomorrow as they host the Owls of Keene State for a non-conference twin bill, starting at 3:00 PM