FITCHBURG, Mass. – The Worcester State University baseball team earned a split with the Falcons of Fitchburg State University in non-conference action Sunday afternoon at Riccards Field. The Falcons secured a 5-3 triumph in the open before dropping a 13-12 decision in the night cap with Worcester State designated as the home team.
With the split, Worcester State moves to 9-10 on the season, while Fitchburg State moves to 8-9.
Game 1: Fitchburg State 5, Worcester State 3
Fitchburg State threatened in the top half of the third when sophomore Jaime Velez (Lowell, Mass.) ripped a lead-off single up the middle, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from junior Brendan Ferrell (Plymouth, Mass.), but following a single by sophomore Brad Keefe (Dracut, Mass.), Worcester State center fielder Thomas DiBattista (Hudson, Mass.) came up firing, cutting down Velez at the plate to end the threat.
The Falcons would grab the lead in the top of the fourth frame with graduate student Richard Sharpe (Townsend, Mass.) lacing a single through the left side, advanced to third on a double by graduate student Jackson Vail (Grafton, Mass.), and scored on a base knock from senior Johan Asencio (Clinton, Mass.) for the 1-0 edge.
Worcester State knotted the score at 1-1 in bottom of the fifth as junior Michael Mabee Jr. (Saugus, Mass.) walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and crossed the plate on an RBI single off the bat of sophomore Zack Roberts (Northbridge, Mass.).
The Lancers took the lead in the bottom half of the sixth stanza when senior Pat Galvin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) doubled to center and scored after a sacrifice bunt and throwing miscue to make the score 2-1.
The Falcons answered back in the top of the seventh with Sharpe, Vail, and senior Cameron Donahue (Methuen, Mass.) registering RBI base hits, while senior Zachary May (Rochdale, Mass.) came across to score as well on a passed ball for the 5-2 lead.
Galvin recorded an RBI in the bottom of the seventh, but the rally would fall short, securing the victory for Fitchburg State.
Donahue led the way for the Falcons, going 2-for-4 with a triple, one run scored and one RBI, while Galvin paced the Lancers, hitting 3-for-4 with a double, one RBI and one run scored.
Junior Matthew Ambrosino (Bradenton, Fla.) collected the win for Fitchburg State, allowing one run on one hit with one strikeout in one inning of relief. Senior Parker Bigelow (Leominster, Mass.) suffered the loss for Worcester State, yielding four runs on five hits in one inning pitched.
Game 2 - Worcester State 13, Fitchburg State 12 (9 innings)
The Falcons grabbed an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first when Velez and Ferrell reached base to start the frame before May blasted a two-run double into the left center field gap, while Donahue followed with a run-scoring double.
The Lancers quickly knotted the score (3-3) in their half of the first as junior Brett Blackwell (Haverhill, Mass.) and DiBattista were hit by a pitch. Junior Sean Devin (Lynn, Mass.) then ripped a two-run triple to deep center and later scored on a hit off the bat of junior Mike Chaves Jr. (Hudson, Mass.).
Fitchburg State regained the lead in the next frame, plating four runs on five hits. Velez walked and moved to second on a bunt single from Ferrell before May proceeded to launch a three-run homer over the right field fence, while Vail added an RBI double that scored Sharpe for the 7-3 margin.
The Lancers cut the deficit to 7-4 in their next at bat. Freshman Andrew LeBlanc (Leominster, Mass.) walked, advanced to third on a double from Galvin and crossed the plate on a wild pitch. The visitors continued to chip away in the bottom of the third when Devin blasted a solo shot down the right field line to make the score 7-5.
Worcester State re-tied the contest (7-7) in the bottom of the fifth stanza with Chaves connected on a solo home run to left center to lead off the frame, while senior Jake Breton (Wilbraham, Mass.) notched a sacrifice fly.
Fitchburg State took the lead back in the sixth as Ferrell doubled and scored on May's second home run of the contest before sophomore Andrew Silverio (Fitchburg, Mass.) scored on a wild pitch and junior Vincent Eramo (Shirley, Mass.) brought home Asencio with single through the right side for the 11-7 advantage.
The Lancers responded in the bottom of the sixth when sophomore Chris Ausiello (Tyngsboro, Mass.) tallied an RBI single to center and newcomer Tom Halliwell (Mashpee, Mass.) laced a two-run base hit to center to cut the lead to 11-10.
The Green and Gold added an insurance run in the seventh, loading the bases on a Silverio walk, a single from Vail and a Donahue walk, while Eramo then ripped a single down the left field line to score Silvero, making the score 12-10
Worcester State knotted the score again in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extras. After base hits by Galvin and Blackwell, Devin continued his hot hitting, delivering a two-run triple to left center. The score remained tied until the bottom of the ninth as Ausiello singled to second base that plated Galvin to secure the 13-12 walk-off win for the visitors.
May powered Fitchburg State's offense, batting a perfect 4-for-4, including two home runs, two doubles, three runs scored and seven RBI, For Worcester State Devin, finished 4-for-4 with a double, two triples and a home run as well as five RBI and three runs scored.
Sophomore Ryan McCarthy (Leominster, Mass.) took the loss for the Falcons, giving up one run on one hit with one punch out in 1.2 innings of work. Sophomore Kevin Zarnoch Jr. (Boston, Mass.) earned the win for the Lancers, allowing just one run on three hits and four K's over three innings of relief.
Up next, the Falcons will travel to Bridgewater State on Friday to take on the Bears for a MASCAC twin billing, starting at 2 p.m. The Lancers return to action on Friday as well as they visit Framingham State University for a conference double header with a 1 p.m. start time.
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Release courtesy of Fitchburg State Sports Information.