Lempicki leads Golden Bears to sweep of AMCATS

Paxton, Mass. - Western New England College's Sarah Lempicki (Plantsville, Conn.) hit two home runs and pitched a complete-game shutout to lead the Golden Bears to a sweep of the Anna Maria AMCATS in a cold Saturday doubleheader in Paxton. The Golden Bears took game one by a score of 10-0 in six innings and came back to win game two in 8 innings 6-4. The Golden Bears improve to 20-12 on the year and an impressive 14-4 in The Commonwealth Coast Conference play, while the AMCATS fall to 14-18 with a 7-13 record in the TCCC.

Lempicki set the tone on the mound early in game one, striking out the side in the bottom of the first. She then came to the plate and helped her own cause with a solo home run in the top of the second to put the Golden Bears ahead 1-0. In the same inning, the Golden Bears took advantage of some wild pitching which loaded the bases for Tricia Breault (Millville,Mass.), who cleared the bases with a double to give the Golden Bears a 4-0 lead.

The Golden Bears tacked on two runs in the fourth and four more in the sixth to take the mercy shortened game one, 10-0. Lempicki completed the game on the mound for the Golden Bears allowing just three hits, three walks, and striking out 10. They were led offensively by Breault, who had two hits and four RBI, and Lempicki who reached base four times and hit a solo home run. Sarah Boyda (Oxford, Mass.), Mary Moroski (Worcester, Mass.) and Dominique Marchand (Mendon, Mass.) each collected a hit for the AMCATS. Nicole Hackenson (Mendon, Mass.) took the loss on the mound for the AMCATS in a complete game effort.

In game two, Anna Maria got on the board with an unearned run in the third, to take a 1-0 lead. They tacked on another run in the fourth on an RBI single by Emily Nugent (Worcester, Mass.) to put the AMCATS ahead 2-0.

Michelle Blackler (Ashland, Mass.) kept the Golden Bears offense off balance and cruised into the sixth inning with a shutout. But the Golden Bears finally broke through when Maria Francese (Dalton, Mass.) got on with an infield single, followed by a base hit to center by Rachel Wyrwa (Methuen, Mass.). Lempicki then came to the plate and launched a clutch three run homer to take a 3-2 lead.

The AMCATS struck back in the bottom half of inning when Allyssa Boykin (Worcester, Mass.) stroked her third home run of the season to tie the game at 3-all.

The Golden Bears regained the lead in the top of the seventh when Elyse Gauvin (Swansea, Mass.) doubled down the line to begin the inning. Pinch hitter Erin Griffin (Lowell, Mass.) moved Guavin to third, and Breault knocked her in with a single to take a 4-3 advantage.

In the bottom half of the seventh, Moroski displayed her tremendous power and knack for clutch hitting, clubbing a long solo home run to left center to send the game into extra frames.

With a runner on second and one out in the top of the eighth, WNEC's Jeana Longo (Schenectady, N.Y.) singled to center field to bring in what turned out to be the game-winning run. The Golden Bears tacked on an insurance run later in the frame to cap the scoring at 6-4.

The Golden Bears were led offensively in game two by Wyrwa and Guavin, who had two hits apiece, and Lempicki who crushed her second home run of the day. Alyssa Obin (Plymouth, Mass.) got to the win on the mound for the Golden Bears, pitching a scoreless inning of relief. Tabitha Ruggeri (Sturbridge, Mass.) and Emily Nugent (Worcester, Mass.) had two hits apiece for the AMCATS while Blacker took the loss on the mound.

Both teams return to action Sunday in TCCC doubleheaders starting at noon. The Golden Bears will host Regis while the AMCATS will travel to Salve Regina.

Photo Courtesy of David Sheridan for AMC Sports Information

Release Courtesy of Daniel Harris for AMC Sports Information