FITCHBURG, Mass. – The Fitchburg State softball team defeated the visiting Lancers of Worcester State 5-2 in the first game of a scheduled MASCAC doubleheader.

 

A steady misting rain put a damper on the second game however, which will be made up tomorrow afternoon at Worcester State (3:30 pm). Senior pitcher Michelle Yuille (Acushnet, MA/New Bedford) earned the victory in the circle, allowing two runs (1 earned) while striking out six.

 

Freshman third-baseman Lauren Cucinotta (Franklin, MA/Franklin) went 3-for-4 on the afternoon, with three singles, a stolen base and a pair of RBI. Freshman third-baseman Katherine Kelly (Worcester, MA/South) led the way offensively for the Lancers, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Junior outfielder Michelle Frazier (Tewksbury, MA/Tewksbury) also pitched in with two hits, including a double.

The Falcons (15-15) (7-4 MASCAC) got things started in the bottom of the first inning. Following a leadoff single by Cucinotta, Jenn Couture (Chicopee, MA/Chicopee) singled through the right side of the infield, scoring Cucinotta after a throwing error.

 

The Lancers knotted the score at 1-1 in the top of the second sparked by a leadoff single by Ashley Nye (Marion, MA/Old Rochester). After a throwing error to put runners on the corners, Nye would cross the plate on a third strike in the dirt However, Fitchburg battled back in the bottom of the frame as Meghan Feeley (Bridgewater, MA/Bridgewater-Raynham) drew a lead-off walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice and scored on a two-base fielding error when Jessie Krause (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall) hit a flyball to the outfield. Krause would score on a Cucinotta single that pushed the lead to 3-1.

Worcester State made it 3-2 in the top of the third. With Veronica Clark (Worcester, MA/St. Peter-Marian) on second base, Kelly delivered a two-out run producing single to center. That would be as close a the Lancer would get, however, as the Falcons increased the lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the inning.

 

Worcester's starting pitcher Jessalyn Hyland (Swansea, Ma/Case) allowed five runs on four hits while fanning four and walking five. Senior Amanda Michaud (Somerset, MA/Somerset) took over in the circle, and after inducing a force out at the plate, Michaud gave up a single to Cucinotta which plated a pair of runs after the throw sailed from the third-baseman to make the score 5-2.

 

Michaud did not allow a run in 3.2 innings of relief. She scattered four hits and fanned one.