Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Baseball team (6-20, 5-8) jumps right back into action this afternoon as they complete their series versus the Fitchburg State Falcons (10-20, 5-8). The Falcons grabbed the opening win on Patriot's Day but the Lancers looked to take the series in their double game battle on a sunny afternoon at Kevin D. Lyons Diamond.

Final- Game 1

Fitchburg State: 3

Worcester State: 16

Final- Game 2 (8-Innings)

Fitchburg State: 6

Worcester State: 7

How it Happened:

Stepping up as pitcher for the Worcester State Lancers would be senior Danny DiMassimo (Pittsfield, MA) who would start the game strong, allowing the Lancers to garner three quick outs in just a matter of minutes. Now with their offense on the field for the first time, the Lancers would look to capitalize on their early momentum and both junior Anthony Iamarone (Providence, RI) and senior Frankie Hernandez (Framingham, MA) would do just that, scoring two runs after Hernandez hit a beautiful home run, soaring the ball past the fences of Kevin D. Lyons Diamond.

Entering the second inning down by two, the first run for the Falcons would come from junior Nolan Hills (Danvers, MA) which would lead quickly to another. This time coming from junior Matthew Smith (Flanders, NJ) tying the game before senior Matthew Kelly (Bridgewater, MA) would strike the ball into center field, allowing the Lancers to grant the third and final out of the inning to the persistent Falcons.

Persistent, but making crucial mistakes that would become all too common, the Falcons would mishandle the ball, sending cheers throughout the Lancer's dugout as junior Michael Cooper (Fitchburg, MA) would take it in for their third run of the game. Then, after a pitch bounced off the ankle of senior Tyler Smith (Leominster, MA), Smith would make his way to first base and officially have the bases loaded for the Lancers. With sophomore Gavin Wells (North Attleboro, MA) sitting on third and awaiting his arrival to home plate, pitcher and junior Jason Pickford (Exeter, NH) would send the ball flying past his pitcher and grant the Lancer's with two more runs from Smith and first year Jeremy DeLacruz (Lowell, MA) before ending their impressive three run inning.

While both offense and defense were clicking for the Lancers, the Falcons would find themselves down 2-5 and introduce a new pitcher, junior Jovanni Merced (Springfield, MA) to gain a fresh start at the start of the fourth. But not even a new pitcher could stop the Lancers offensive dominance as they would have the bases loaded for most of the fifth inning which would bring in four more runs by Cruz, Smith, Iamarone, and Hernandez, increasing their lead to by a whopping seven runs.

With the score now sitting at 2-9, the Falcons looked to pull it back but the Lancers would simply not let them. And after yet another change in pitcher for the Falcons, this time swapping out Merced for first year Daniel Nineve (Plainville, MA), the Lancers would find themselves with bases loaded once again. With loaded bases, sophomore Nathan Thurber (Framingham, MA) would strike the ball far into center field as Smith, Iamarone, and Hernandez would sprint for three more runs.

Down but not out, the Falcons managed to get back on the board again with Hills thrashing the baseball past the fences, securing their third run of the game, and lessening their deficit by one. But their deficit would not be shortened for long as Smith, first year Ryan Jewett (Natick, MA), Iamarone, and Hernandez would touch home plate for four more runs which would solidify an already impressive lead for the Lancers.

In the closing moments of the contest, first year Demetrius Sampalis (North Scituate, NH) would take over pitching duties for the Falcons, but he would not see much playing time as the first game of this doubleheader would end with a score of 3-16 and a dominant win for the Worcester State Lancers.

Heading into game two of this doubleheader, the Lancer's would make a change at pitcher, swapping DiMassimo with first year Tedy Cove (Worcester, MA). Cove would throw the ball precisely but after giving up a hit to junior Jacob Hurrell (Haverhill, MA), Hurrell would steal two bases, place himself on third base, and score the first run of the game for the Falcons. 

Several innings would pass and the score would remain 1-0 due to stellar defensive play until a costly mistake for the Lancers would give up another run, taken in by senior Maxwell Kelly (East Bridgewater, MA). 

With Worcester State down by two, the Lancers needed a play to boost their morale and two walks granted by sophomore Adam Wholley (Londonderry, NH) would do just that. As a result of these walks and several hits by the Lancers, Worcester State would tie the game after to heroic runs by Wells and Delacruz. Moments later, the Lancers would have the bases loaded and with Hernandez lining up at bat, Wholley would throw his final pitch of the game as Hernandez would hit it out of the park, bringing in another four runs for the Lancers and completely turning the game on its head. This home run by Hernandez would be his first of the game but the second of the day.

Pitching for the Falcons would now be sophomore Sy Sullivan (Tigard, OR) who would see his first play within both games and seize the third and final out of the inning, sending the game into the top of the sixth. In an eventful inning, the Falcons would touch home plate three times with runs from junior Cole DuHaime (Warminster, PA), Kelly, and sophomore Maxwell Riordan (Pepperell, MA) to almost complete the comeback and present Worcester State with a new score of 5-6. With the final minutes of the game quickly approaching, the Falcons managed to load the bases and create a tense atmosphere for Worcester State Lancer pitcher/sophomore Zachary Scottie (Warwick, RI) who would have a number of magnificent throws but on one instance, pitched too low resulting in Riordan scoring for the second time today, tying the game at 6-6 and sending the game into the eighth inning.

One more chance and one more inning for the Lancers to capture a win an electrifying way would be at their fingertips, and Delacruz would do it, scoring the game winning run after a hit by Jewett to crown the Lancers as victorious in this exhilarating matchup versus the Fitchburg State Falcons.

What's Next:

Worcester State now sits at (8-20, 7-8) as they prepare to journey to nationally ranked Salve Regina Seahawks tomorrow in a nine inning battle at 3pm as they prepare to wrap up their conference slate holding onto the tiebreaker with the Falcons for the final postseason slots.