MCLA softball falls to Worcester State in MASCAC Quarterfinals 3-1 in 9 innings

North Adams, MA-  The third seeded Worcester State Lancers recieved a two out double from Hayley Terry in the top of the ninth innings in leading them past the second seeded MCLA Trailblazers 3-1 in the quarterfinal round of the MASCAC softball championships.  With the win, the Lancers will face the winner of Bridgewater and Framingham at 1:30 tomorrow.  MCLA will play the loser at 11am tomorrow.

The Lancers are now 13-20 while MCLA is 13-16 overall.

MCLA jumped ahead 1-0 as they took advantage of some Lancer miscues in the second inning.  Sam Barbarotta reached with one out on an infield error and moved up a base on Abby Lucas' single.  Jenn Sicinski hit a liner to second that was misplayed and allowed Barbarotta to score for a 1-0 advantage.  That play put runners at second and third, but Lancer Kayla Humphrey induced a shallow flyout and a groundout to avoid further damage.

Humphrey would cruise from there and at one point retired thirteen straight Trailblazers.  The Lancers would put runners on off MCLA starter Rachel Quackenbush, however they couldn't score the equalizer until the sixth inning.

Terry singled and moved up on a wild pitch to lead off the sixth.  Quackenbush retired the next two Lancers, but then allowed a MacKenzie Crumley RBI single to knot the score at 1-1. 

Neither team would muster much offense until the ninth inning as Worcester finally got the hit they were searching for.  Jillian Witkowski led off with an infield single and when Taylor Hanley struck out, she stole second bringing the top of the order to the plate.  Quackenbush would retire Courtney Salisbury, who had three hits in the game, but then Katie Storro hit an infield single putting runners on the corners for Terry.   Storro would steal second and then Terry would blast a double off the center field wall scoring both runs and giving the Lancers a 3-1 advantage.

MCLA would get a leadoff hit in the 9th, however Humphrey would retire the next three batters to secure the win.

Humphrey would earn the win in improving to 6-6 on the season.  She allowed 4 hits and struck out 6 without allowing an earned run.  Salisbury collected three hits to lead Worcester, while Storro, Terry, and Humphrey each finished with a pair.  WSU outhit MCLA 11-4.

Quackenbush absorbed the loss as she fell to 9-9 on the season.  She struck out 9 Lancers.