NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- The second seeded MCLA Trailblazers received a stellar pitching performance from Rachel Quackenbush while Megan Boyer’s solo home run in the fifth was the difference as the Trailblazers defeated the third seeded Worcester State Lancers 1-0 in the quarterfinal round of the 2013 MASCAC Softball  Championship this afternoon at Zavattaro Athletics complex in North Adams.  

With the victory, MCLA moves on to face the winner of top seeded Bridgewater State and 4th seeded Fitchburg State tomorrow at 1:30pm in Bridgewater.  The Lancers will face the loser of that contest at 11am, also in Bridgewater.

Boyer’s key blast came off a Hannah Everson fastball that easily cleared the fence in right field.  The home run was the senior’s third of the season.  MCLA had some other opportunities earlier in the contest, but couldn’t get a key hit against Everson.

Worcester would mount a rally in the seventh when Alex Kerr doubled with two outs.  She advanced to third on a throwing error, bringing Taylor Hanley to the plate.  Quackenbush would bear down and get Kerr swinging to end the game.

Quackenbush was outstanding from start to finish.  She allowed just one hit and struck out 8 Lancers.  Everson was almost as good surrendering just three hits and striking out 6 Trailblazers.

MCLA wasted a golden opportunity in the second inning to get to Everson.  Samantha Barbarotta led off with a bloop single into center field.  Tanelle Ciempa then sacrificed her over, but the bunt was misplayed placing runners at the corners for Boyer.  Ciempa promptly stole second base putting a pair in scoring position.  Everson would bear down though striking out Boyer and Sam Boyle before inducing a Rachel popout to end the the threat.

Worcester finally broke into the hit column with one out in the fifth on Hanley’s bloop single just out of the reach of Trailblazer shortstop Shelbi Clary.  Quackenbush would strand her though, as Kylene Pease grounded out to shortstop to end the rally.

Everson sent down the final six batters she faced, while Quackenbush retired seven in a row until Kerr’s double in the seventh. MCLA evens its record at 20-20 overall, while the Lancers fall to 23-16.