Softball Sweeps Worcester State in MASCAC Twinbill

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University softball team swept a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader with Worcester State University on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Park.

The Bears blanked the Lancers in the opener, 1-0, and completed the sweep with a 3-2 victory in eight innings in game two.

Bridgewater improves to 14-12 on the season and 4-2 in the MASCAC with the two victories, while Worcester slips to 12-15-1 overall and 4-2 in conference play.

In game one, Kelly McCarthy (Burlington, Mass.) tossed a complete game shutout and scored the only run of the game to lead the Bears to the 1-0 victory.

McCarthy scattered four hits, walked one and struck out two in the circle. She also went 2-for-3 at the plate with a triple and run scored.

McCarthy belted the three-bagger to lead off the fourth inning. After an out, Kristyna Flaherty (Burlington, Mass.) ripped a base hit up the middle to plate McCarthy with the only run of the game.

Meghan Rich (Chelmsford, Mass.) pitched well in the losing effort for the Lancers. Rich (3-5) gave up a run on eight hits with a walk and six strikeouts.

Dakota Smith-Porter (Montague, Mass.) highlighted the Worcester offense as she reached safely in all three plate appearances with a single, double and walk.

McCarthy (12-5) also picked up the win in game two as she went all eight innings allowing two runs on eight hits with a pair of walks and three strikeouts.

Morgan Cox (Dennis Port, Mass.) was the offensive hero for Bridgewater State in the nightcap as she went 3-for-4 with a double, a run and two RBI. Cox staked the Bears to a 2-0 lead in the third inning with a two-run double. Both of the runs were unearned.

The Lancers answered in the top of the fourth with a pair of runs on back-to-back RBI doubles by Rachel Couto (Chelmsford, Mass.) and Taylor Daniels (Norco, Calif.).

The scored remained tied at 2-2 until the bottom of the eighth inning. With two down, Cox lined a single through the left side. Flaherty then rifled a triple to the gap in right-centerfield to score Cox with the game-winning run.

Courtney Leddy (Saugus, Mass.) also finished with multiple hits for the Bears in game two as she singled twice in four at bats.

Kayla Humphrey (Wallingford, Conn.) took the loss in the circle for the visitors in the complete game effort. Humphrey (5-2) gave up three runs (one earned) on seven hits with no walks and three strikeouts.

Hayley Terry (North Dighton, Mass.) went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk to lead the Worcester offense, while Courtney Salisbury (Cranston, R.I.) was 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored.

The Bears head to Fitchburg State University on Monday for a noontime MASCAC twinbill with the Falcons. The Lancers travel to Clark University tomorrow afternoon for a non-conference doubleheader with the Cougars also starting at noon.