McDaniel Sweeps Baseball, 4-3 and 1-0, In Doubleheader

Auburndale, FL --- Behind a pair of solid efforts on the mound by McDaniel senior Zach Jones (Frederick, MD) and junior James Chiorello (E. Windsor, NJ), the Green Terror defeated Worcester State, 4-3 and 1-0, this afternoon at the Lake Myrtle Baseball Complex. 

In the nightcap, the contest was scoreless until McDaniel (9-5) scored the eventual game-winning run in the bottom of the fifth. After sophomore Brandon Hayward (Salisbury, MD) led off the frame with a walk, scampered over to second on a passed ball and then he slid into third on a sacrifice.

Senior Alex Teal (Malden, MA) did his job on the hill to get the next two outs, but the Green Terror took advantage of an error in the infield that was mishandled by the second baseman. 

Worcester State had their chances to plate the game-tying run over the next two frames with a one-out double by senior Nick Gezotis (Westfield, MA) in the sixth and a single from sophomore Jeff Bolio (Oxford, MA) with one man down in the seventh, but no one could deliver the base-knock to score the equalizer.

Jones (4-1), last week's National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Pitcher of the Week, was sensational as he scattered six hits, fanned nine and walked just one batter in the complete-game effort. 

The Lancers had a great chance to get to Jones early on in the contest with runners on second and third and no outs, but freshman Andrew Hofmeister (Baltimore, MD) snatched a fly ball in right and gunned down the runner sliding into home plate to help end the threat.

Bolio was the contests only multi-hitter with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate while he finished with a pair of swipes. 

Overall, Worcester State left the go-ahead or game-tying run with one or fewer outs four times over the final six frames of the second contest.

Teal (1-2) gave up four base knocks to go with five punch outs and one free pass in the tough-luck setback. 

In the opener, the Lancers got the scoring started in the bottom of the first with an unearned run with two outs.

Gezotis started the rally with a single and he got to third on a heads-up running play following a safety by junior Joe Carlier (Rockland, MA). Carlier then attempted to swipe second, but a wild throw from the catcher scored Gezotis and put Carlier at third base. 

The Lancers looked poised to add to their 1-0 lead, but Chiorello struck out the next batter to end the threat.

Chiorello settled down as he retired eight of the next 13 batters through the sixth inning. Chiorello also got out of a first and second jam in the fourth frame with no one out by fielding a terrific bunt to get the lead runner at third and he induced a double-play to keep the score where it was. 

The effort proved to be of significant importance for the Green Terror who nearly batted around with a four-run top of the sixth.

With runners on the corners, junior Marshall Betts (Berlin, MD) drove in senior Pat Christopher (Union Beach, NJ) and then third-year Joe Fiore (Point Pleasant, NJ), freshman Sean Silvio (Elliot City, MD) and senior Tyler Jackow (Colonia, NJ) followed with RBIs for McDaniel.

Worcester State finally broke through by scoring twice in the bottom of the seventh.

Senior Kurt Sabacinski (Worcester, MA/St. Peter-Marian) drew a lead-off walk before sophomore Zach George (Attleboro, MA) hammered a pinch-hit run producing triple. George came around to score on a sophomore Cody Osburn (Sacramento, CA) ground-out to help make the score 4-3.

But Chiorello buckled down with no one on base and he set down his final two batters with swinging strikeouts to seal up the win. On 111 pitches, Chiorello (3-1) gave up three runs (two earned) to go with six hits, eight punch outs and three walks.

Senior Nick Bonofiglio (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) went the distance in the setback for Worcester State in his first decision of the season. Bonofiglio (0-1) yielded four earned runs on eight hits and he finished with six strikeouts as he walked two batters.

Christopher and Betts were both 2-for-3 for the Green Terror while there were no multi-hitters for the Lancers. McDaniel also out-hit their opponents, 8-6, in the first game.

Both squads close out their spring training trips at the Chain of Lakes Complex. Worcester State will play Southern Maine at 9:30 in the stadium while McDaniel faces off against Rutgers-Camden at Field #5.