Worcester, MA- In the first game of the 2025 season, the Worcester State Baseball team travels to the New England Baseball Complex to begin their season versus Anna Maria. This game is a taste of next season when the AMCATS will officially be joining the MASCAC as a new core member of the conference.

Final

Worcester State: 5

Anna Maria: 6

How it Happened:

Worcester would kick off their season in strong fashion as they grabbed three quick outs in the bottom of the first to lead off the season behind the arm of Junior Craig Barnes (Billerica, MA). With the top of the second coming, so did some offensive uptick. The Lancers would tally their first hit on the day, but it would not yet produce runs. Anna Marie would also get on the offensive by tallying two hits, and the first run of the day. The score was 0-1 as we headed into the third. 

The game continued to be a back and forth defensive battle until the bottom of the fourth where Anna Maria would score their second run of the game. The AMCATs would add to this lead in the bottom of the fifth with another run as the winds and hail began to pick up the field, making for a wintry mix in action after sunny start to the action. The Lancers would need to answer in the top of the sixth, and they would with their first run of the game as senior Tyler Smith (Leominster, MA) would single in sophomore Kevin Doyle (Bridgewater, MA). With some rocky pitching in perfect symmetry to the rocking weather, the Lancers were able to advance Smith to third  and have senior Anthony Iamarone (Providence, RI) stationed at second to tie the game. Sophomore Tyler Normandie (Lowell, MA) would be forced into a ground out at short but in the challenge for the play at third Smith was able to capitalize on an Anna Maria error to record Worcester's second run of the game. Worcester would look to snag the tying run off a fresh AMCATs pitcher but with a fresh arm, the inning would move to the bottom with a 3-2 score. Anna Maria would add another run in the bottom of the sixth to push a 4-2 lead into the seventh.

The top of the eighth would find the offensive success the Lancers had been searching for all game as Smith and Iamarone would be walked to put the lead run at the plate. Normandie would not disappoint as he used his strength and the advantage of the wind to send a ball deep past the centerfield fence for the three run homer and the 5-4 lead. This score would hold into the ninth inning as each team aimed to grab the win. While Worcester would give it their all, Anna Maria would have a late surge in the ninth to claim the 6-5 win.

What's Next:

Worcester State (0-1, 0-0) is back in action next Friday at 3:30pm when they host Wheaton College in a home meeting at NEBC.