WORCESTER, Mass. - The Worcester State University baseball team drops two in a non-conference doubleheader with Massachusetts Maritime Academy on Saturday afternoon at Lyons Diamond.
Worcester state falls to 8-7 overall, while the Buccaneers improve to 3-5.
Game 1 – Mass. Maritime 7, Worcester State 6
Worcester State made a late inning run to close the gap on Senior Day but was unable to overcome the Buccaneers.
The Lancers were the first to cross the plate when Mike Chaves Jr. (Hudson, Mass.) scored on an RBI single from Thomas DiBattista (Hudson, Mass.) in the bottom of the second. Mass. Maritime quickly took the lead in the top of the third inning, which was highlighted by a three run home run by Brett Velzis (Cypress, Texas).
Mass. Maritime scored two more in the top of the fourth to add insurance to their growing lead. However, the Lancers weren't going to go down easy. Chris Ausiello (Tyngsboro, Mass.) cut the Buccaneer's lead in half when he scored in the bottom sixth, the only run that inning. Senior, Pat Galvin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) hit a two run RBI homerun to start the Lancer scoring in the bottom of the seventh. DiBattista snagged another RBI when he brought in Sean Devin (Lynn, Mass.) on single through the left side. The final and tying run for the Lancers came from sacrifice from Chris Wright (Jefferson, Mass.) to put Chaves Jr. back across the plate.
The top of the eighth gave the Buccaneers their opportunity to take the lead, 7-6, when a passed ball put John Tropea (East Sandwich, Mass.) on second who was later brought in by Zach Sylvia (Brockton, Mass.) for the final run of the game.
Worcester State threw four seniors in the five pitchers that got on the mound in the contest: Sean Mahan (Woburn, Mass.), Chris Elliott (Plymouth, Mass.), Isaac Christiansen (Franklin, Maine), and Parker Bigelow (Leominster, Mass.). Bigelow took the loss for Worcester State, throwing one inning and allowing only one run. Brodey Tinkham (Norton, Mass.) got the win for Mass. Maritime, allowing no earned runs in 2.2 innings of work.
Game 2 – Mass. Maritime 7, Worcester State 6
Mass. Maritime started game two of the afternoon looking to get ahead early. A series of singles coupled with two errors from the Worcester State defense put the Buccaneers up by five early on. Dylan Sullo (Acushnet, Mass.), Velzis, Braden Killens (Marshfield, Mass.), and Michael Doyle (Boston, Mass.) all had at bats that helped their teammates cross the plate to go up 5-0 in the first inning.
The Buccaneers scored their final two runs of the game early in the top third when Killens sent a two-run home run over the fence to put his team up 7-0.
The Lancer bats were quiet until the fifth inning when some crafty base running, a defensive error and a hard hit single from Zack Roberts (Northbridge, Mass.) combined to put two runs up on the board for Worcester State by the end of the inning.
The eighth inning started when Joe Rogato (Methuen, Mass.) came in as a pinch hitter and reached on an error. The Lancers were able to string together three runs after that with RBI singles from both Ausiello and Tom Halliwell (Leominster, Mass.).
The Lancers knew they were still in the fight only down by two heading into the bottom of the ninth inning. Galvin was able to make it home, but one wasn't enough for the Lancers to overcome the early Mass. Maritime lead.
Lancer hurler Ben Smith (Bourne, Mass.) was credited the loss. Kyle Gray (Braintree, Mass.) was the only Worcester State pitcher to see two innings in the second game where he allowed two runs in his two innings. John Teehan (Boston, Mass.) credited with the win, threw 7.2 innings for the Buccaneers allowing eight hits and five runs in his time on the hill.
The Lancers are headed to Fitchburg State University to compete in a conference play double-header on Friday, April 30th. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m.
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