Teal Tosses Gem To Help Baseball Earn Split Against Framingham State

Framingham, MA --- The Worcester State University baseball team split a MASCAC double-header with Framingham State this afternoon at Bowditch Field dropping the first 4-3 before earning the 4-2 triumph in the night cap.

After the split both teams are now an identical 3-3 in the MASCAC with the Rams improving to 9-16 overall and the Lancers moving to 11-13.

The Rams plated two in the bottom of the first to take the early lead in game one.  Senior Will Crofton (Hopkinton, MA) doubled to drive in sophomore Cameron Couillard (North Andover, MA) who had singled to lead off the inning, second-year Mark Mainini (Hull, MA) then singled to drive in Crofton two batters later for the 2-0 advantage.

Back-to-back singles to right to start the top of the fourth inning by senior Kurt Sabacinski (Worcester, MA/St. Peter Marian) and sophomore Rob MacDonald (Waltham, MA) got the Lancer offense going.

After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third first-year Brandon Hoyle (Bridgewater, MA) singled to deep short to drive in Sabacinski cutting the deficit in half.

With runners on the corners and still only one out in the inning WSU looked to tack on more. Sophomore Nicholas Gikas (Danvers, MA) hit a foul fly toward left field and Mainini ranged a long way making an acrobatic catch.  Mainini then fired a strike to home to catch MacDonald as he tried to tag on the play ending the threat and keeping the score 2-1 in favor of the Rams.

Framingham State tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single by Couillard that drove in junior Ivan Colon (Waltham, MA), who walked to lead off the inning.

Worcester State answered with a run in the top of the sixth as sophomore Zach George (Attleboro, MA) doubled to left off the third base bag and scored on an RBI single by MacDonaldfor the 3-2 score.

Mainini led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Matt Roberge (Lowell, MA). Junior Billy Desroiser (Shrewsbury, MA) drove Mainini home with a single down the right field line to give the hosts the two-run edge again.

The score proved to be huge as the Lancers looked for some two-out magic in the top of the seventh.

Third-year Joe Carlier (Rockland, MA) started the rally with a pinch hit single to center. Carlier was then pinch ran for by sophomore Steve Fitzmaurice (Foxboro, MA) who proceeded to steal second and come around to score on an RBI double by pinch hitter Jeff Bolio (Oxford, MA).

However, Bolio was stranded as junior right-hander Matt DiCato (Winthrop, MA) induced a fly-out to end the threat and the game.

Dicato picked up the victory going the distance recording his fifth complete game in as many starts running his record to 4-1 on the year. Dicato allowed three earned runs on nine hits with two strikeouts and a walk.

Senior Nick Bonofiglio (Worcester, MA) was tagged with the loss for the Lancers as he drops to 1-4 on the season throwing six innings yielding four earned runs on seven hits with a punchout and a pair of free passes.

Couillard and sophomore Matt Gerard (Milford, MA) picked up two hits apiece in the opener for the Rams, while MacDonald was the lone Lancer with multiple hits turing in a 2-for-3 performance.

The Rams started game two with an unearned run in the bottom of the first as freshman Ryan Wardwell (Hudson, MA) drew a walk with the bases loaded which plated senior Justin Forman (Watertown, MA) who doubled earlier in the inning.

Worcester State tied the game in the top of the fourth as they had runners on first and second after a pair of walks.  Junior Dan Ubele (Tyngsboro, MA) then singled to center driving in MacDonald with the game tying run.

The Lancers took their first lead of the day, 2-1, in the fifth inning as second-year Steve Wallace (Auburn, MA) doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a sacrifice fly to deep center by Sabacinski.

The Blue and Gold added on a pair of insurance runs in the sixth extending their lead to 4-1. 

Ubele plated a run with an RBI base hit and sophomore David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA) scampered home from third when Ubele was caught trying to steal second.

Senior Alex Teal (Malden, MA) pitched a gem for the Lancers in game two holding the Rams to just one hit in the game, a Forman double in the first inning, until their final at bat of the day. 

In the seventh inning, freshman Jake Wardwell (Hudson, MA) singled with one out, but was erased at second on a fielder's choice. 

Forman followed with his second double of the game driving in a run to pull the Rams back within two, but that was as close as they would get as Teal was able to induce a groundout to end the game.

Teal improved his record to 4-3 with his sixth complete game of the campaign. He gave up two runs (one earned) on three hits with five walks as his ERA remains below 1.00 at second in the MASCAC with a mark of 0.97.

Sophomore Ryan Bowen (Hudson, MA) took the loss for the Rams going all seven innings. Bowen (2-4) allowed four earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

The Blue and Gold outhit Framingham State 7-3 in the night cap.

Forman went 2-for-4 for the Rams in game two with a pair of doubles, while Wardwell drew three walks.

George, Ruggiero and Ubele all picked up two hits for the Lancers in game two with Ubele driving in a pair.

The two teams are right back at it on Monday with another MASCAC doubleheader.  The Rams travel to Fitchburg State at 12 PM, while the Lancers travel to Bridgewater State for a first pitch scheduled at high noon.

Major Portions of Release Courtesy of Framingham State Sports Information