Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Baseball was looking to put some wins back in their column after a rough start to the weekend series versus Westfield State. The Lancers would power through the 14 innings and a two-hour rain delay to come home with the victories and move to 6-3 in the MASCAC.
Game one saw senior Cole Glassburn (Hopkinton, MA) starts things off for the Lancers, who would carry them through 6.1 innings of action with three strikeouts and allowing just seven hits. Worcester State was the first to get on the board first when a sophomore Anthony Iamarone (Providence, RI) single up the middle found senior Alex Sorenti-Burns (Sagamore Beach, MA) and junior Tom Halliwell (Leominster, MA) crossing home plate to put the Lancers up 2-0. The action would continue in the second when a senior Zack Roberts (Northbridge, MA) grounder to third would bring sophomore Xavier Quezada (Providence, RI) across the plate.
The third inning was quiet for both the Owls and the Lancers, but the fourth inning had the Lancers adding to their lead when Roberts, again in the action, was able to find his way home off an error by the Westfield second baseman. The issues again mounted for the Owls as a pitch rolled past the catcher allowing Halliwell to cross the plate and put the Lancers up 5-0. Westfield was able to get themselves on the board in the bottom of the fifth when one run was tagged on the board for them. Worcester doubled up the scoring during the top of the sixth when sophomore Tyler Smith (Leominster, MA) singled, but another error from the Owls advanced him to second and Roberts across home. Sorenti-Burns would then single to bring Smith back to the dugout and push Worcester up 7-1.
Westfield attempted a comeback in the bottom of the sixth, scoring four quick runs to close the gap to 7-5, but were unable to do anymore damage in the seventh as the Lancers came away with the game one victory.
The Lancers looked to continue their success in game two, but Westfield was not about to start with their foot behind for a second game. Senior Kevin Zarnoch, Jr. (Boston, MA) started the game on the mound for the Lancers, going 6 innings with four strikeouts and allowing only 8 hits in the extended game.
The Owls were quick to get on the board as they knocked in an early run in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. A rain delay stalled action in the fourth inning as each team waited out the two-hour break to continue the action. The rain looked to work in the Owls favor as they grabbed another run in the bottom of the fourth to take a 2-0 lead. For as beneficial as the delay appeared for the Owls, it was even more so for Worcester. At their first complete at bat post delay, the Lancers were able to knock in four runs and jump to a 4-2 lead. Smith doubled to right field to send in Quezada and graduate student Sean Devin (Lynn, MA). Following up this action was a Sorenti-Burns double which saw Smith and Roberts bring in runs of three and four. The Owls again attempted a comeback in the 6th, sending in one more run but the Lancer put it away in the top of the seventh with a Roberts homerun to bring the score to 5-3 and solidify the second victory of the day for the Lancers.
Worcester State (11-14, 6-3) is back in action on Monday, in a Patriot's Day home showdown versus MASCAC rivals Fitchburg State. First pitch is scheduled for 12pm.