Bears Post Back-to-Back Shutouts in Sweep of Lancers

Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

WORCESTER, Mass. - Sophomore Jillian Vancelette (Charlton City, MA) and junior Alyssa Verronneau (Acushnet, MA) hurled back-to-back shutouts as the visiting Bears of Bridgewater State College swept a MASCAC doubleheader with Worcester State on Monday evening at Rockwood Field.  The Bears took the opening game of the twinbill by a final tally of 8-0 in six innings.  BSC completed the sweep with a 5-0 victory in game two.

With the two wins, Bridgewater improves to 10-12 overall and a perfect 4-0 in the MASCAC.  Worcester falls to 7-8 on the season and 2-2 in conference play.

In the opener, the lefty Vancelette scattered five hits, did not walk a batter and struck out one as she picked up her first career shutout.

Bridgewater State got on the board in the top of the third inning to take a 2-0 lead.  First baseman Danielle Trull-Donahue (Stoughton, MA) doubled to left center to open the inning.  Tracy Sanko (Windsor, CT) followed by reaching on a sacrifice bunt that the Lancer third baseman threw away which scored Trull-Donahue.  Third baseman Stacey Capodeice (East Lyme, CT) drove in the Bears' second run on a single to left plating Rachel Sprague (Duxbury, MA) who singled earlier in the inning.

Bridgewater was back at it in the top of the fourth.  Trull-Donahue, who led off the inning with a single, scored on a single through the left side by Sprague who advanced to second on a throw to the plate.  Meghan Noyes (Stoughton, MA) followed with a single of her own through the left side scoring Sprague to give Bridgewater State a, 4-0, lead.  Noyes advanced to third on a single by second baseman Nicole Hebert (Taunton, MA).

Bridgewater State put the game out of reach when they scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning.  Hebert drove home Sanko who led off the inning with a bunt single to increase the Bear margin to, 5-0.  Center fielder Allie LeBlanc (Somerset, MA) squeezed home Noyes who had an infield single earlier in the inning.  Catcher Lindsey Allison (S. Easton, MA) followed with a two-run double to center to give Bridgewater State the 8-0 advantage.

Catherine Costopoulos (Tyngsboro, MA) took the loss in the circle for the Lancers.

In game two it was a pitcher's duel for the first five innings as Verronneau and Worcester State's Jessalyn Hyland (Swansea, MA) were both flawless keeping each other off the board.

In the top of the sixth Hyland ran into trouble.  After hitting the first two batters of the frame, Hebert belted a two-run double to over the center fielder's head to give Bridgewater State a, 2-0, lead.  After Hebert advanced to third on a wild pitch, Capodiece hit a single into the hole at short scoring Hebert with BSC third run of the frame.

Bridgewater State added more in the top of the seventh. Sanko led off with a bunt single and Sprague followed by lacing a double into the left field corner to score Sanko all the way from first.  Noyes followed with a walk and advanced to second as Sprague was erased on a double play groundout.   LeBlanc plated the Bears' fifth run as she drove in Noyes from second with an RBI single to center.

Verronneau improved to 6-4 as she recorded her second shutout of the season and fifth of her career. She allowed just three hits, walked three and struck out a career-high 11 batters. Verronneau also hurled a shutout last season over the Lancers

Worcester State returns to action on Tuesday when they visit Clark University.  Bridgewater State will host Springfield College on Wednesday.