WORCESTER — Alexis Ferris threw a no-hitter for the Hampshire Regional softball team.
What else is new?
The Raiders senior didn’t allow a hit for the sixth time this season.
Her latest no-no came in an 8-0 win Tuesday in the Division 2 state semifinal over Central Massachusetts champion Auburn at Worcester State University.
Hampshire (21-2) will play North champion Tewksbury (22-3), which took down South champion Abington in the other semifinal, at 3:30 p.m. Saturday back at Worcester State.
“We’re just used to it at this point,” Hampshire junior first baseman Madison Philbrook joked after the game. “She just doesn’t get flustered. No matter what’s going on it doesn’t affect her.”
Ferris didn’t even know about the no-hitter until Hampshire coach Brian McGan informed the team in the dugout after they shook hands with the Rockets.
She opened the game with a strikeout then walked Auburn’s Jessica Clifford.
No other Auburn player reached base safely.
Clifford reached on an error in the top of the fourth, while the Rockets (20-4) went down 1-2-3 in the other five innings, including the seventh.
Julia Handfield, the losing pitcher, struck out looking to lead off the seventh, then Sarah Fahey popped out.
Auburn called time after that, so Hampshire catcher Lilly West called a meeting at the mound.
“She was trying to calm all of us down and say ‘we got this,’” Ferris said. “At first I was definitely wicked nervous, but after a while once we got runs on the board I definitely calmed down a lot.”
Ferris finished with 10 strikeouts in the game to place her career total at 657. She’ll need nine in the state semifinal to break Barb LaFogg’s program record of 666.
“It’s tremendous for the program and for herself. The kid she’s up against, I was told is one of the best pitchers around,” McGan said. “To get on top of her, if she can, is a tremendous honor for her.”
Ferris even helped herself out at the plate.
She singled in the bottom of the fifth inning to bring home Katy O’Connor, who reached on an error, to make the score 8-0.
Hampshire (21-2) picked up its other seven runs during a backbreaking second inning.
West led off and got to first after an error.
Nicole Buzzee courtesy ran for West and proceeded to steal second and third.
Madison Philbrook brought her home with a single to put the first run on the board.
“When you’ve got a kid that can run a little bit, you put some pressure on the infield. They’re wondering squeeze play or not, they don’t know,” McGan said. “If I had the game ball I’d give it to her (Buzzee). That was a huge opportunity for us, and it snowballed.”
Ferris followed with a single, then Brielle Bergeron slapped a double to score courtesy runner Kiley Bissell and make it 2-0.
Paige Sullivan struck out looking for Hampshire’s first out with runners on second and third.
That brought up Chelsea Moussette and the top of the order.
The senior speedster put the ball in play down the first base line, forcing a throw home.
Auburn catcher Tyler Rano appeared to tag Bissell when the two collided standing up at the plate, but she was ruled safe.
Danielle McGan hit a single after that to put Hampshire up 4-0.
An error with Philbrook at the plate brought around two more runs, and O’Connor singled to make it 7-0.
“That’s not typically how we play defense. It’s our first time in this game and it was a long, grueling season. Not to make excuses, we didn’t make the plays,” Auburn coach Kim Danish said. “If you don’t make them, you’re on this side of it. After that, we settled down. I was happy for that resilience we showed.”
Hampshire, the defending state champions, were playing in their third consecutive state semifinal game.
Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com.