Erica Cordio has vivid memories of facing Michaella Mahoney when the two were high school rivals, with Cordio at Leominster and Mahoney at Shrewsbury.

“I always remember she was the most dominant pitcher I faced in high school,” said Cordio, who is two years younger than Mahoney and blossomed into one of the Blue Devils’ best hitters. “I know I had a hard time against her.”

Cordio, Mahoney and Lauren Besozzi, another of their former Mid-Wach A foes from Milford, are now captains at Worcester State and have led the Lancers to a solid start. Worcester State returned from Florida with a 7-3 record and is 12-8 heading into today’s doubleheader against WPI.

“We’re happy with where we are, and we’re just ready to keep on going,” Besozzi said before yesterday’s practice.

Mahoney, who led Shrewsbury to the Division 1 state title in 2006, was an All-MASCAC selection last season, and the Lancers’ ace continues to excel this year. She’s 6-2 with a 1.46 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 52-2/3 innings. She has been named MASCAC Pitcher of the Week three of the last four weeks.
Mahoney, though, doesn’t believe she has been at the top of her game.

“I don’t really feel like I’m pitching that well,” she said. “I feel like last year at this point, I had a lower ERA, and I feel like I had more command than I do now. I feel like I could be performing so much better than I am. I hold myself to high expectations.”

A bad inning against Westfield earlier this month sticks with Mahoney. The Owls scored 10 runs, four of them earned, in the fifth inning of a 10-1 win.

“I think about that inning to keep my head on straight,” said Mahoney, Worcester State’s only senior, “and to get down to business.”

Mahoney spent the winter working at Extra Innings in Auburn and focused a lot on her hitting. She’s batting .395 with four home runs and 22 RBIs. She has been named the MASCAC Player of the Week twice this spring.

“This is my last year, and I just want to finish with everything I have,” Mahoney said.
Sophomore Kylene Pease is hitting a team-high .446 and Cordio is at .298) for the Lancers, one of the MASCAC’s best hitting teams.

Pease, who came to Worcester State from St. Anselm, is one of three new Division 2 transfers on this year’s roster. Hannah Everson came from New Haven and Aimee Lamoureux of East Brookfield transferred from Franklin Pierce.

“They’ve helped our offense a lot,” said Cordio, who transferred to Worcester State from the University of Rhode Island 21/2 years ago and also was an All-MASCAC selection in 2010.

Under coach Jennifer Kapenas, the Lancers won 20 games last season and qualified for the MASCAC Tournament for the first time since 2004.

“We definitely have high expectations for this season,” Besozzi said, “and I definitely think we’re on our way to fulfilling our team goals.”