Ruggiero, Barry Help Baseball Race Past Nichols, 14-4

Worcester, MA --- Junior David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA) collected four hits including a double while driving in three runs and scoring twice to help Worcester State cruise past Nichols, 14-4, this afternoon in non-conference baseball action at the Lyons Baseball Diamond.

With the win the Lancers improve their record at 12-10 while the Bison fall to 3-17 with the setback.

After junior Zach George (Attleboro, MA) crossed home on a beautifully executed double-steal in the first inning, the Blue and Gold added four runs in the second frame for a commanding 5-0 lead.

The inning was highlighted with a bases loaded walk to George and a pair of sacrifice flies from Ruggiero and freshman Adam Barry (Auburn, MA).

Nichols junior Brett Franciosi (Leominster, MA) lifted another deep scoring fly to center in the bottom of the second to get the Bison on the board at 5-1.

The teams traded runs in the third inning before Barry blasted his second round-tripper of the year and sophomore Dennis Duplessis (Marlboro, MA) notched an RBI single to center in the top of the fourth for an 8-2 advantage.

George once again swiped home base in the fifth inning, but the Bison responded in the bottom half of the sixth with a pair of runs making the score 9-4.

WSU grabbed three more scores in the seventh inning to pull away. Ruggiero plated a pair with a double and junior Jeff Bolio (Oxford, MA) smacked a run producing single for the 12-4 lead.

Worcester State then collected a pair of unearned tallies in the ninth inning to account for the final score.

The Blue and Gold finished with the commanding 17-9 lead in hits.

Bolio finished the day 3-for-6 with a pair of doubles and an RBI while Duplessis added three hits of his own to go along with two runs scored and one batted in. Junior Nick Gikas (Danvers, MA) turned in a 2-for-4 afternoon and crossed home twice for the Lancers.

Nichols freshman Scott Iacobucci (Hope, RI) finished 3-for-4 with two RBI as the only multi-hit player.

Freshmam Andrew Wells (Methuen, MA) picked up the win for WSU as he scattered eight hits allowing four runs (three earned) with three walks and three strikeouts to improve to 2-3 on the year in his seven innings of work.

First-year Tyler Barrie (Oxford, MA) gave up one base-knock, hurling two scoreless innings with one punchout to finish off the game for the Lancers.

Nichols junior Collin Geagan (Watertown, MA) allowed six hits surrendering five unearned runs over the contests first two stanzas and he fell to 0-2 for the season.

The Bison bullpen used four pitchers who yielded nine runs (one earned) on 11 hits over the final seven frames.

Both squads return to action Saturday with high noon conference doubleheaders as Worcester State entertains Westfield State as Nichols hosts Wentworth.

Story By John Hanna --- Sports Information Graduate Assistant

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