Bethlehem, Pa.- After a battle in the opening round action versus Moravian to begin their NCAA Regional, the Worcester State Softball team (27-13, 9-5) looked to keep their hopes alive versus the Eastern University Eagles (29-10, 12-2) of the Commonwealth Conference. The two teams share a common opponent in Clark University whom both teams claimed victories off of.

Final (8-Innings)

Eastern: 6

Worcester State: 4

How it Happened:

While the first inning would focus on each team feeling each other out, the Lancer would use the second to go deep over the left field fence as junior Bella Gasbarro (Leominster, MA) would record the first run of the game.

The fifth would be a high intensity situation for the Lancers as the Eagles managed to work two runners into base but sophomore Taylor Coonan (Grafton, MA) would work the remaining batters to find the three outs needed to end the threat without a run. Worcester would tack on an additional run at the bottom of the fifth as sophomore Cali Brouillard (Millbury, MA) would hit a double to center to be carried home of a senior Emma Lanpher (Charlton, MA) dropper in the gap behind second for the two run lead. A throwing error to first would provide the space needed for Lanpher to record run three while a passed ball would bring in. Junior Emma Lapoint (Westfield, MA) in for a 4-0 lead before Eastern was able to stem the flow of action and move the game to the sixth. 

The Eagles would finally find some offensive momentum in the sixth as they would rocket a top fence double to center on one out to bring in their first run of the game for Eastern. Worcester, looking to hold their momentum, opted for a pitching change as they brought in sophomore Peyton Maloney (West Boylston, MA) to the mound. Maloney would get out of the seventh with a 4-2 score.

The top of the seventh would find Eastern bringing the score back settled off some pitch count work and some drop balls to the outfield. The top of the eighth would see the Eagles work into more runs on two outs as the Lancers would bring in senior Sarah Gosselin (Charlton, MA) to shut down the action and bring the Lancers offense up to bat. Worcester would get a runner on with an out with junior Amanda Adamuska (Dudley, MA) who would be swapped on base for junior Carisa Andrews (Medfield, MA). Worcester would try to make their at bats connect but the Eagles found their groove and shut down the Lancers' attempt for the victory and advancement in the NCAA tournament.

Release courtesy of Worcester State Sports Information