Strong Pitching, Hitting Helps Baseball Sweep MCLA, 5-0 and 7-1
Auburn, MA --- Junior Jeff Bolio went 4-for-7 with three runs and a pair of RBIs to help lead Worcester State to a 5-0 and 7-1 sweep of MCLA in their MASCAC opener this afternoon.
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Auburn, MA --- Junior teammates Ben Libuda (Auburn, MA) and Kris Doyle (Millbury, MA) each recorded complete game victories to help Worcester State sweep MCLA, 5-0 and 7-1, to open MASCAC play this afternoon at Auburn High School
Libuda (1-1) surrendered just two hits to go along with three walks and six strikeouts as he only allowed one runner to reach second base in the opener. Libuda went the distance for the second time on the campaign on just 92 pitches.
Doyle (1-2) allowed just one earned run on five hits with seven strikeouts and five free passes in the nightcap.
The Lancers (6-8, 2-0 MASCAC) struck early in game one as junior Jeff Bolio (Oxford, MA) singled to open the second inning and came around to score on classmate Nick Gikas' (Danvers, MA) single through the left side for the 1-0 score.
The Blue and Gold tacked on two more runs in the third inning, taking advantage of an infield miscue to open the frame. Freshman Adam Barry (Auburn, MA) was the beneficiary of the error and later scored on a double to left field by classmate Joe Kasper (Lynn, MA) before Gikas produced a run with a fielder's choice for the 3-0 edge.
The hosts added single scores in both the middle innings to secure the 5-0 victory.
Senior Joe Carlier (Rockland, MA) aided the effort with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth while sophomore Steve Wallace (Auburn, MA) executed a perfect squeeze bunt in the fifth.
Worcester State out hit the Trailblazers 8-2 in the opener.
MCLA sophomore right-hander Robert Jutras (Readsboro, VT) absorbed the loss and saw his record fall to 0-2 after four complete innings of work allowing four runs (one earned) on eight hits with one walk, a pair of hit batsman and three strikeouts.
In the second game, the Lancers erupted for five runs in the bottom half of the first inning highlighted by RBI base-knocks from Bolio and Gikas for the 5-0 advantage.
Bolio came through again in the second inning with another run producing single and Barry notched a run scoring single up the middle in the third for the commanding 7-0 lead.
MCLA (2-9, 0-2 MASCAC) finally broke the shutout in the seventh with a sacrifice fly by junior Mike Sullivan (Wareham, MA) with the bases loaded against a tiring Doyle.
Junior Mike Mancivalano (Pittsfield, MA) was dealt the loss to even his record at 1-1 after allowing six runs (four earned) on five hits with three walks and two hit batsman over the first one and 1/3 innings of work.
Worcester State outslugged the visitors 8-5 in the second contest.
Bolio finished the day a combined 4-for-7 with three runs scored and a pair of RBI's while Gikas collected a two hits of his own with three runs batted and he crossed the plate once.
MCLA junior Chase Preite (N. Adams, MA) reached base four times with a pair of solo safeties and he reached first on walks on two ocassions.
Both squads return to action on Tuesday afternoon with 3:30 PM contests as the Lancers host Rhode Island College and the Trailblazers return home to match-up with Southern Vermont.
Story by John Hanna --- Sports Information Graduate Assistant
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