Goodwin, Monteiro & Ovadek Plate Runs As Softball Drops MASCAC Doubleheader Decision At Worcester State

MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME SOFTBALL

Sunday, April 9, 2017

Rockwood Park, Worcester, Mass.

GAME #1 FINAL:          WORCESTER STATE 21, MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME 3 (5 INNINGS)

GAME #2 FINAL:          WORCESTER STATE 16, MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME 0 (5 INNINGS)

WORCESTER, Mass. --  Senior Dakota Smith-Porter (Montague, Mass.) tossed a no-hitter and struck out nine in the nightcap to lift Worcester State to a 16-0 victory and a sweep of a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference softball doubleheader from Massachusetts Maritime Sunday afternoon at Rockwood Park.  In the opener, senior Courtney Salisbury (Cranston, R.I.) and junior Sydney Despres (Sterling, Mass.) each homered and combined for nine RBI in a 21-3 triumph.

The host Lancers (5-11, 2-2 MASCAC) jumped out to a 9-0 first inning lead in the opener and iced its triumph with an 11-run fourth inning outburst, as Despres hit a grand slam in the first frame and Salisbury added a two-run double in the fourth.  Salisbury had three hits in the lid-lifter for Worcester State, which received two hits and four RBI from Despres to go with a pair of hits and three RBI off the bat of sophomore Monica Ferrazzani (North Reading, Mass.).  Seven Lancers recorded at least two hits as part of a 17-hit opening game attack in support of senior Kayla Humphrey (Wallingford, Conn.), who allowed four hits and struck out two to improve to 2-2 inside the circle.

The visiting Buccaneers (2-6, 0-4 MASCAC) plated a pair of second inning runs on an infield single by sophomore Emily Goodwin (Halifax, Mass.) and an RBI single off the bat of junior Sarah Monteiro (North Falmouth, Mass.), and Massachusetts Maritime collected its other tally in the third on a single through the right side by freshman Madison Ovadek (Greenland, N.H.).  Sophomore Rachel Gardner (Bourne, Mass.) added a single as well for the visitors, as freshman Melissa Cochrane (Walpole, Mass.) went the distance and fanned one to fall to 1-4 on the spring.

Worcester State scored three runs in each of its first two at-bats in the nightcap and took control of the contest with an eight-run third inning rally, as Despres and freshman Becky Brandeberry (Phillipston, Mass.) each had three hits and drove in four runs.  Salisbury and senior Mary McKeown (Shrewsbury, Mass.) also had three hits each as part of a 21-hit attack in the second outing for the Lancers in support of Smith-Porter, who walked one and struck out nine to complete the no-hitter and earn her first win of the season.  Freshman Jenna Nalette (Goffstown, N.H.) went the distance inside the circle for the Buccaneers to fall to 1-2 on the season.

Massachusetts Maritime travels to Chestnut Hill, Mass. on Thursday afternoon to take on Pine Manor in a non-league doubleheader that begins at 3:30 p.m., while Worcester State hosts WPI in a non-league twinbill on Tuesday afternoon at Rockwood Park beginning at 4:00 p.m.

(Photo Credit:  Justin Reidy)