WORCESTER, Mass. -- MCLA junior Rachel Quackenbush tossed a complete game shutout and helped her cause by drilling a two-run homer in the first inning to lead the Trailblazers past Salem State 6-0 in the 2015 MASCAC Softball Championship game on Sunday on the campus of Worcester State University. 

 

With the win, the Trailblazers (15-20) earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament and will await their seeding Monday morning at 10 a.m.

 

MCLA wasted little time salting this one away as Quackenbush continued her torrid play throughout the conference tournament. She retired the Vikings (22-17) in order in the top of the first inning and then blasted a two run homer in the bottom half, scoring Alex Romano, for an early 2-0 lead.

 

The Trailblazers would add three more in the second frame with Quackenbush again in the middle of the action. A hit batter and consecutive errors loaded the bases for MCLA with nobody out. Salem induced a popout and line out keeping the runners at bay bringing Quackenbush to the plate.  She lofted a fly ball to right field that was misplayed allowing all three runners to score and giving MCLA a commanding 5-0 lead.

 

From there the story was Quackenbush. She cruised through the third and fourth innings before running into trouble in the fifth. She allowed a pair of singles and a walk to load the bases with just one out, however she notched a pair of strikeouts to end the threat.

 

MCLA tacked on an insurance run in the fifth on an RBI double from Sierra Bailey and Quackenbush would allow just a pair of runners over the final two frames. She recorded the final two outs in odd fashion by snaring a liner and doubling off the runner at first base sending the Trailblazers to the NCAA tournament.

 

The Trailblazers outhit the Vikings 10-4 on the afternoon.  

 

Katelyn Doherty and Marisa Sanchez each had a pair of hits for the Vikings. Meghan Black absorbed the loss for Salem State.

 

MCLA had four players log a pair of safeties as Romano, Michaela DiNicola, Abby Lucas, and Angelica Perfido all chipped in. Quackenbush earned her third win of the tournament tossing all seven innings and recording 10 strikeouts as she improved to 10-7 on the season.

 

For her efforts, she was tabbed as the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

 

MCLA's squad includes senior Amanda Meczywor of Adams (Hoosac Valley) and freshman Jamie Meehan of Williamstown (McCann Tech).

 

The Trailblazers earn their first trip to the NCAA tournament since the 1995 squad that advanced all the way to the Elite 8. The selection show is available on NCAA.com.