Worcester, MA- After a thrilling Spring break trip that found Worcester State Baseball (8-4, 0-0) come home with seven more wins on the season, the Lancers have shifted their focus to conference play as they host the conference opener this afternoon in a single nine-inning battle with the MCLA Trailblazers (2-9, 0-0).

Final

Worcester State: 5

MCLA: 2

How it Happened:

The top of the first inning started with junior Craig Barnes (Billerica, MA) retiring three of the first four batters that MCLA offered. In the bottom of the second sophomore Tyler Normandie (Lowell, MA) got the first hit for the Lancers in this outing, but Worcester was unable to convert the runner to runs.

The top second would have the first run of the game giving the Trailblazers the 1-0 lead. The bottom of the second would see senior Anthony Iamarone (Providence,RI) get on base for the Lancers first, then first year Riggs Catlin (Dedhan, MA) would follow suit, with both of them running into home plate giving the Lancers the lead 2-1. Next up, senior Xavier Quezada (Providence, RI) would get a nice hit turning into a double to end the inning for the Lancers.

The top of the third would see Barnes retire three of the four hitters of MCLA. During this Quezada would pick off the runner going to second base for the second out of the inning. The bottom of the third had Normandie getting on base first via a walk where Catlin would get a single into left field allowing Normandie to get to third base but the inning would end there from a flyout into right field with the Lancers still up 2-1.

The top of the fourth inning would start with a line out to center field for the first out of the inning. Following that two more outs would follow with Worcester holding strong to end the frame. The bottom of the second would see sophomore Ryan Jewett (Natick, MA) getting on base first via a single to right field, however the inning would end at the next at bat, with the Lancers still up just 2-1.

The fifth inning would see senior Tyler Smith run in a hit from Normandie to extend the lead to 3-1. The next inning would see MCLA add another run on the board making it 3-2 with the Lancers still holding onto the lead. Senior Mason Bates (Shrewsbury, MA) would get on base on the first at bat with a single to right field and then shortly after he would steal second base. Quezada would get a triple into deep right field to run in Bates for the score. Jewett would follow this up with a single into right field to run in Quezada for another run giving the Lancers a 5-2 lead.

Junior Nolan Turner (Barnstable, MA) would open up his pitching account in the top of the seventh inning for the Lancers. This would end up being a three up three down inning for the Lancers holding their lead. Normandie would get a single off his first swing of the bottom of the seventh inning. That would be all that happened in this inning with the score still at 5-2.

The eighth inning would be a relatively quiet inning for both teams, the Lancers would get two players on base, but were unable to capitalize, maintaining the 5-2 lead.

First year Matt Direnzo (Leicester, MA) would start off the ninth inning for the Lancers getting help from first year Christopher Mondesir (Roslindale, MA) who would provide a nice leaping catch towards center field to get the first out of the inning for the Lancers. Iamarone would catch a flyout out towards centerfield to secure the final out and also the game for the Lancers 5-2.

What's Next: 

The Blue and Gold (9-4, 1-0) are quick on the pivot as they journey out to Williams College tomorrow where MCLA will host a double header seven inning set to round out the series.