WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Westfield State softball team fell in a doubleheader set against WPI by a score of 8-0 in game one and 5-2 in game two on a Sunday afternoon from Rooftop Field in Worcester, Mass.
The Owls drop to 1-8 on the season, while the Engineers improve to 5-6 overall.
In game one, Westfield kept the game close through four innings as starter Brenna Welch (Halifax, Mass.) gave the owls four quality innings, allowing three runs on five hits with three strikeouts. However, a costly fifth inning which included two errors created a five-run frame that would ultimately end the game in five innings.
Engineers starter Katie Martin (Bedford, N.H.) kept the Owls' bats quiet as she allowed just two hits and a walk over five innings while punching out six batters. Welch took the loss for Westfield. Sophomore Jordyn Lummus (Pittsfield, Mass.) reached base twice in the contest, recording a hit and a walk.
In game two, WPI started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Sydney Russell (Arlington, VA) led off the game with a triple, and after a pair of strikeouts, she scored on a passed ball to go up 1-0.
Westfield State countered in the top of the second with a pair of runs to go up, 2-1. Katherine Canty (Natick, MA) worked a walk to open the inning, before Skylar Dutra (Mashpee, MA) sacrificed her to second. A single from Lexus Mastromatteo (Worcester, MA) advanced Canty to third, where she was sent home on a fielder's choice from Victoria Quill (Raynham, MA). Mastromatteo scored on a sacrifice bunt from Lindsay Cordopatri (Walpole, MA), but a groundout ended the inning.
WPI knotted the game a 2-2 with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Lazarus and Salvalzo led off with singles before advancing to second and third after a wild pitch. Diaz then drove Lazarus home with a fly ball to center to tie the game.
The Engineers took a 5-2 lead with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Ambrosino doubled to start the action while Pritchard doubled to score Ambrosino and went to third on a wild pitch. A sac fly from Lazarus then scored Pritchard to make it 4-2 WPI. Salvalzo followed with a single and a stolen base, scoring from second on a Diaz single up the middle that made it 5-2. Kallie Case (Arlington, VA) singled, but Westfield State forced a groundout and threw out an advancing runner at home to limit the damage.
In the top of the seventh, Dutra doubled to lead off the inning before a pair of strikeouts. An infield single from Cordopatri put runners on first and third with two outs, but WPI's Bishop threw out Cordopatri on a steal attempt to end the game.
Canty took the loss for the Owls, tossing a complete game and allowing five runs on eight hits with two strikeouts. Engineers' starter Sophia Togneri (Hudson, Mass.) recorded a career-high nine strikeouts, throwing seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits with nine strikeouts.
Both teams are back in action on Tuesday with home doubleheaders. Westfield State hosts Bay Path starting at 3:00 P.M. from Westfield, Mass. WPI will host Brandeis beginning at 3:30 P.M.
(Parts of release courtesy of WPI Athletics)