Softball Sweep Worcester State in MASCAC Twinbill

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Senior right-hander Meghan Dunn (Colchester, Conn.) and junior right-hander Amber White (Middleboro, Mass.) both hurled complete game, 1-0 shutouts as the Bridgewater State University softball team swept a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader with visiting Worcester State University on Monday afternoon at Alumni Park.

With the pair of wins, the host Bears improve to 14-12 on the season and 5-3 in the MASCAC standings.  The Lancers slip to 12-11 overall and 2-4 in conference play.

In the opener, White (8-5) gave up just a first inning single, walked two and fanned five to record her fifth shutout of the season.

The Bears plated the lone run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning.  With two outs, senior catcher Brianna Strecker (Waterford, Conn.) was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on an RBI single to left off the bat of sophomore shortstop Jocelyn Bettencourt (Plymouth, Mass.).

Worcester senior pitcher Hannah Everson  (Methuen, Mass.) suffered the loss in the circle for the visitors despite pitching well.  Everson allowed just the one run on four hits and walk with six strikeouts over six innings.

The Lancers had two quality scoring opportunities, but stranded runners at second and third in the second inning and had a runner cut down at the plate in the fifth.

In game two, Dunn (6-7) allowed just two hits, walked one and struck out six to post her second shutout of the season. She retired each of the last 11 batters she faced and 15 of the last 16.

Strecker belted her first home run of the year to lead off the bottom of the first inning to account for the lone run of the game. Strecker finished 2-for-3 at the plate and also stole a base.

Freshman right-hander Meghan Rich (Chelmsford, Mass.) pitched well in the setback for Worcester in game two.  Rich (6-4) went six innings giving up a run on four hits while fanning three.  She did not walk anyone.

The Lancers left runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings and a had a runner thrown out at the plate in the third.

In upcoming action, the Bears host Tufts University in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon starting at 3:30.  The Lancers entertain non-league foe Western Connecticut State University on Thursday with game one of the twinbill getting underway at five.