Baseball Caps Off Regular Season With 7-2 Victory Over Fisher

Worcester, MA --- Sophomore teammates Steve Wallace (Auburn, MA) and Zach George (Attleboro, MA) both went 3-for-5 at the plate as they both helped lead Worcester State to a 7-2 triumph over Fisher College this afternoon in non-conference baseball action at Rockwood Park.

The contest was a warm-up for both squads who are gearing up for postseason play. The Lancers (18-20), who are the fourth-seed in the upcoming MASCAC Tournament, host Bridgewater State on Thursday in a single-elimination contest at 3:30 at the Lyons Diamond.

The Falcons (33-16) will travel to Texas to play in an NAIA Baseball Tournament Regional in the next week.

Wallace helped jump start Worcester State as he crossed home plate on an RBI with two men down by George for the 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first. Wallace had led off the frame with a single and he moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt.

In the bottom of the third, Wallace touched home again when sophomore Rob MacDonald (Waltham, MA) induced a base-loaded walk.

The Lancers took over the 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth when Wallace drove in sophomore Nicholas Gikas (Danvers, MA) on a run producing single to centerfield.

Fisher broke the shutout in the top of the fifth on a squeeze play by senior Jose Paulino (Lawrence, MA) to score freshman Ivan Cabranes (Tao Alto, Puerto Rico).

The score remained the same until the bottom of the eighth when the Blue and Gold broke the game open with a four-run inning for the 7-1 edge.

Sophomore Cody Osburn (Sacramento, CA) jacked a bases-clearing double to the deep part of right center to take advantage of a key throwing error by the shortstop. Junior pinch runner Cory Loomer (Shrewsbury, MA) then scampered home on a dropped fly ball in the infield by the third baseman.

The Falcons came right back and put runners on the corners following a ground-rule double by sophomore Dominic Zaher (Chelmsford, MA) and an infield bunt single by pinch-hitter Dauys Batista (Union City, NJ).

But MacDonald, who came in to pitch the top of the ninth, induced a double play to score Zaher and a ground-out to finish off the contest.

Sophomore Ben Libuda (Auburn, MA) allowed one earned run on two hits in his five innings of work. Libuda (3-1) fanned one and issued one free pass in the victory.

Senior Cruz Rosado (Clinton, MA) and Osburn teamed for three scoreless frames of two-hit relief for the Lancers.

Junior Jefry Castro (Union City, NJ) shouldered the setback as he allowed the first run of the game the opening frame. Castros record drops to 4-4 with the loss.

Eight different relief pitchers were used by the Falcons who were preparing their arms for the postseason tournament later on in the week. The bullpen combined ring up five on strikes and four were handed out walks.

For the Blue and Gold, sophomore David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA) was 2-for-4 while MacDonald reached base four of his five plate appearances with a trio of walks and he was plunked once.

Worcester State doubled up their opponents in the base-hit category for the game, 12-6, but left 13 men on base.