WESTFIELD – The Westfield State softball team swept a
doubleheader from Worcester State, 9-1 and 5-1, to remain unbeaten in the
Massachusetts State College Athletics Conference.
The Owls improved to 16-6 overall and 6-0 in the conference. Worcester State
dropped to 7-12 and 2-4.
Westfield received solid pitching performances in both games.
Junior ace Chelsea Sylvia (South Dartmouth) tossed a three-hitter in the
first game, which only lasted five innings because of the eight-run mercy
rule.
In the nightcap, junior Casey Riddell (Athol/Mahar Regional)
survived a shaky start for the pitching victory. She allowed two hits and an
unearned in the first inning then settled down to scatter three hits over
the final six frames. Riddell did not issue a walk and struck out two.
In the opener, the Owls blasted 13 hits in their four at
bats. Westfield scored three runs in the first and six in the third.
Senior third baseman Adrienne Walker (Springfield Sci-Tech)
was 2 for 3 with a double and three RBI, and junior center fielder Jackie
Mason (Florida, Mass./Drury) was 1 for 3 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Sophomore left fielder Danielle Lutenegger (Sunderland/Frontier Regional)
pounded a two-run double. Jen Raymond (Sutton) and Lindsay Jardin were both
3 for 3.
Katherine Kelly was 2 for 2 with a double for the Lancers.
In the second game, the Owls scored two unearned runs in the
second to take a 2-1 lead. Junior first baseman Katie Gorman rapped an RBI
single in the third and Mason slammed a two-run inside-the-park homer in the
fourth.
Both teams collected five hits but the Lancers committed four
errors. Allison Allen was 2 for 2 for the Owls.
Karen Feeley (West Springfield) doubled for the Lancers and
Maura Crossman (Colrain/Mohawk Trail) drove in their only run with a long
single to the center field warning track.