Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Baseball team was back in action on a perfect Friday afternoon as they look to grab the second win of the week after a walk off win on Wednesday over the Anna Maria AMCATs. The Lancers would start their MASCAC weekend showdown hosting Framingham State, currently 8-3 in the conference, in what could be a deciding series for postseason placement.
Senior Ben Smith (Bourne, MA) started on the mound for the Lancers and while the first pitch was sent over the second baseman sophomore Xavier Quezada's (Providence, RI) head for a single, he was crisp for the remainder of the inning, forcing the next three batters into quick outs in play. Framingham's pitcher Vincent LoGuidice struggled early in the counts, walking the first batter and setting up a number of full counts that eventually saw a junior Tom Halliwell (Leominster, MA), on second after a passed ball by the Rams' Ryan Plocker, and Tyler Smith (Leominster, MA) up to bat. A well placed single brought Halliwell home for the first run of the game. A Tyler Smith stolen base put another runner in prime scoring position that senior Chris Ausiello (Tyngsboro, MA) handled swiftly to put the Lancers up 2-0 which held until the close of the inning.
The second inning went just as swiftly for the Lancers as a Framingham flyout led to a controversial call with runners on second and first, as the runner was tagged out at second for leaving early. A following flyout to right field would close out the Rams at bat, but the Lancers were unable to replicate the success of their first at bat going down 1-2-3. The Lancers returned the favor in the top of the third as the Smith-to-Smith pitching team got ahead early in the counts forcing Framingham into uncomfortable decisions that saw the first two go down in strikeouts before the final batter grounded out to Ausiello for the out at first. The scoreless action remained through the top of the fourth as Ben Smith was in precision mode, forcing the first batter into a ground out to Quezada before getting the next two down swinging. The Rams were not to be outdone though as they forced the Lancers back down in three straight at bats to continue the scoreless innings.
The Rams threatened in the fifth after a hit by pitch put a runner on base. A sac bunt and a fly out to right field advanced the runner to the scoring doorstop. Two walks quickly found the bases loaded and a discussion commencing on the mound with an aim to quickly wrap up the inning. Ben Smith met the challenge head on as he forced Framingham's Steven Burbank into a grounder that popped up into his glove for a short toss to graduate student Sean Devin (Lynn, MA) at first to preserve the 2-0 lead. The Lancers were unable to build onto it in the bottom of the fifth as some crisp defense by the Rams, including a quick snag on a line drive at first sent Worcester back onto the field in the 6th.
The Lancers fielding was on display for the top of the 6th as senior Zack Roberts (Northbridge, MA) prevented a base runner for tagging up and getting home with a crisp solid pass into the infield and Ausiello nabbed the final out of the inning on a brisk grounder to the shortstop who paced the ball perfectly to Devin at first. Anthony Iamarone (Providence, RI) tried to add a little offensive life for the Lancers at the bottom of the inning when he fly out to the right field gap resulted in a rundown for the Rams and a dropped ball that found him at second base, but with two outs already on the board the Lancers were unable to bring a third run across the plate.
Ben Smith would keep the sheet clean into the seventh inning stretch where a first year Joe Auger (Lowell, MA) single, and stolen base on a passed ball, would put a Lancer in scoring position early with just a single out on the board. A Quezada single would put base runners on the corners with Nathan Thurber (Framingham, MA) up to bat. Auger would be picked off attempting to work a double steal leaving Quezada the lone runner on base. Thurber attempted to get him home with a solid strike up the heart of second base but the Ram's shortstop was quick to adjust and get him out at first to end the threat.
The Lancer's staff would call in senior pitcher Brett Bucklin (Lynn, MA) in the 8th inning who would look to preserve the shutout. A Calen Hendrix double for Framingham though would end that dream, as his deep centerfield hit brought home the tying runs. The Rams looked to add to their lead with Hendrix still on second and runner on first after being hit by the pitch. Cam Gilroy would load the bases off a wonky pop up behind first base. A Matthew Shaver single that dropped into the gap of center and short would send the leading run home and keep the bases loaded for pinch hitter Jimmy Gilleran who would go down swinging for the second out. Shane Costello would follow the same script to end the inning with the Lancers now down 3-2.
Worcester looked to quickly respond as a Roberts single into the left field gap would get the tying run on base. Roberts and Halliwell would swap places after a grounder for an out at second but an error by the Rams' shortstop would see a second runner on base. Ausiello looked to send them both home with a deep hit to center, but Framingham's Shane Costello was underneath it to wrap up the final out on the 8th.
Junior Danny DiMassimo (Pittsfield, MA) would step in for the 9th inning where he preserved the single lead deficit to give the Lancers a chance at another walk off victory in two games. Aarin Siegal would look to get things started in the bottom of the inning but would ground out to third base who was able to get the ball to first for the tag out. Auger would step up next looking to get the tying run on base, which was swiftly accomplished when he was hit by the pitch to claim first. Daniel Bourget would step in as the pinch runner with Quezada up to hit. Quezada would find himself on first with a four pitch walk putting both the tying and winning run on base. Nathan Thurber looked to punch the ball past the pitcher but a bare hand grab had him out at first with the tying and winning run now sitting on second and third. This brought Roberts to the plate with two outs. Roberts ended up flying out to right field, ending any hope of a Lancers comeback as they fell to Framingham 3-2.
Worcester State Baseball (12-16, 6-5) will be back in action tomorrow as they travel down route 9 to take on Framingham State in a double game set. First pitch is set for 1pm.