Baseball Holds Off Late Charge To Edge Becker, 4-2

Worcester, MA --- Sophomore Ben Libuda (Auburn, MA) went seven scoreless innings, scattering six hits as he also walked two and fanned five to help Worcester State defeat Becker, 4-2, in non-conference action this afternoon at Rockwood Field. 

With the victory the Lancers improve their record to 9-12 while the Hawks fall to 2-19 on the campaign.

With the score knotted at 0-0, the Blue and Gold were jump started by a tremendous defensive play in the top half of the fifth to lead to a three-run bottom half for the 3-0 advantage at the midway point of the contest. 

Becker senior Eric Lajoie (Oakham, MA) belted a one-out triple to right as the visitors looked poised to get on the board first.

After Libuda (1-1) caught the next batter looking, classmate Austin Phillips (Thomson, GA) lined a sharply hit ball into right field which looked to be an RBI single, but second-year right fielder Zach George (Attleboro, MA) charged the ball hard, playing it on one hop and fired to first base just beating the headfirst dive of Phillips to end the inning. 

George then contributed with his bat doubling down the left field line scoring junior Dan Ubele (Tyngsboro, MA) who led off the frame with a two-bagger of his own. George swiped third and came around to score on a throwing error by the catcher for the 2-0 advantage.

Third-year Joe Carlier (Rockland, MA) continued hit parade two batters later as he lined a double down the right field line to score senior Kurt Sabacinski (Worcester, MA/ St. Peter Marian) who had reached on a walk for the final run of the frame. 

The Lancers added an unearned run in the next inning when freshman Dennis Duplessis (Marlboro, MA) reached on an infield single and crossed home on a fielding error by the shortstop.

The Hawks seemed destined for some late inning heroics as they cut the deficit in half in the eighth inning. 

With Libuda out of the game, Becker wasted little time to take advantage. Junior Mike Marcello (West Haven, CT) hit an RBI double down the left field line scoring first-year Josh Lawrence (Manhattan, NY), who pinch ran for Phillips after he singled up the middle to start the inning.

Marcello then came around to score on a bloop single to center by Taylor Kapulka (Worcester, MA/Holy Name), two batters later for the 4-2 score. 

With the bases loaded and still no one out, senior left hander Nick Bonofiglio (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) bore down and recorded a fielder's choice and a pair of swinging punchouts to get out of the threat without further damage.

After the Lancers were set down in order in the bottom of the eighth, the Hawks stepped back to the plate to try and extend the game. 

Senior Todd Tompkins (West Haven, CT) started the inning with a double to right center and advanced to third on Marcello's infield single.

However, with runners on the corners and only one out senior Alex Teal (Malden, MA) recorded a strikeout and induced a ground out to end the threat and the game while picking up his first career save. 

For the visitors, Tompkins finished the day with a pair of doubles while Marcello was also 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored. Kapulka ended the afternoon 3-for-5 with an RBI and Lajoie added two base-knocks including a triple.

Carlier recorded the only multi-hit game for WSU going 2-for-4 at the dish with a double as the Hawks outslugged Worcester State, 11-6, for the game. 

Sophomore Brian Dowling (Naugatuck, CT) took the loss in his first start of the season. Dowling (0-2) hurled five innings surrendering three earned runs on five hits while yielding two free passes and fanning three.

Freshman Chris O'Rourke (Mendon, MA) and junior DJ Reed (Londonderry, NH) combined to toss the final three frames, holding the Lancers to just one hit and an unearned run without issuing a free pass. Reed rung up two batters in a scoreless eighth. 

The Blue and Gold return to action tomorrow when they host Nichols College at 3:30 PM and Becker returns home to take on Suffolk Friday at 4 PM.

Story By John Hanna --- Sports Information Graduate Assistant