BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Top-seeded Bridgewater State University advanced to the championship round of the 2022 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Softball Tournament as the Bears defeated #2 seed Worcester State University, 6-2, in the winner's bracket final on Friday afternoon at Alumni Park.

The host Bears improve to 23-14-1 on the season with the win, while the Lancers fall to 19-19. Worcester will take on #3 Framingham State University in an elimination game on Saturday afternoon at one o'clock at Alumni Park. Bridgewater will host the winner of that game on Sunday morning at 11.

The Lancers opened the scoring with an unearned run in the top of the second inning. Senior designated player Molly Glynn (Abington, Mass.) reached second on a fielding and throwing error, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a two-out RBI single by senior shortstop Jen Thorburn (Groton, Mass.).

The Bears capitalized on a dropped foul ball to push across four unearned runs in the bottom of the third inning to jump ahead, 4-1. Junior designated player Madison Dana (Lynn, Mass.) and junior first baseman Olivia Silva (Somerset, Mass.) both connected for two-out, two-run singles in the frame.

Sophomore left fielder Janet Jolly (Raynham, Mass.) smacked her first home run of the season, a solo shot down the left field line in the bottom of the fourth, to extend the BSU lead to 5-1.

An RBI single by junior third baseman Rachel Sinclair (Westminster, Mass.) in the top of the fifth made it a 5-2 game. The Lancers also had a runner thrown out at the plate on the play.

The Bears got the run right back in the home half of the fifth on a pinch hit RBI single by sophomore Madison Flamme (Bethel, Conn.).

Senior righthander Kelley Reichert (Milford, Mass.) came on in relief to record her MASCAC-leading 15th win of the season. Reichert (15-4) allowed one run on three hits over four innings with a walk and three strikeouts. Sophomore righty Madelyn Klingel (Windsor, Conn.) worked the first three innings for the Bears as she gave up one run on one hit with a pair of walks and a strikeout.

Sophomore righthander Emily Bartlett (Lowell, Mass.) was saddled with the loss in the circle for the Lancers. Bartlett (10-9) allowed five runs, only one of which was earned, on seven hits over four innings with a walk and five strikeouts.

Silva (2-3, 2RBI), senior right fielder Emma Healy (Plymouth, Mass.) and graduate catcher Madison Synan (Quincy, Mass.) notched two hits apiece to pace the Bears' 11-hit attack. Healy singled twice in four at bats and scored a run, while Synan went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Thorburn went 2-for-3 with an RBI to highlight the Worcester offense.