Baseball Sweeps Salem State To Claim Share Of MASCAC Regular Season Crown

Telegram & Gazette: "Libuda, Doyle Lead Worcester State To Sweep"

MASCAC Baseball Tournament Bracket

Worcester, MA --- A pair of solid pitching performances from juniors Ben Libuda (Auburn, MA) and Kris Doyle (Millbury, MA) helped Worcester State sweep Salem State, 6-1 and 9-0, this afternoon in MASCAC baseball action at the central campus baseball field.

With the victories the Lancers improve to 21-14 overall while the Vikings fall to 25-14 on the season. Both now hold identical 11-3 marks in MASCAC action.

WSU secures a share their seventh MASCAC regular season title and earn the head-to-head tiebreaker over Salem State to secure the number one seed and will host the upcoming tournament when play begins for the Blue and Gold on Friday afternoon.

WSU will play the winner of the match-up between #4 Westfield State and fifth-seeded Fitchburg State, who play on Thursday.

The strong finish to their conference slate also marks the 13th 20-win season under 19th year head coach Dr. Dirk Baker.

Salem State claims the second seed and after their first-round bye, they take on the victor of the #6 Bridgewater State and fourth-seeded Framingham State.

With the first game scoreless WSU plated four in the top of the third inning to grab a 4-0 cushion.

Junior classmates David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA) and Zach George (Attleboro, MA) registered run producing doubles and third-year Cody Osburn (Sacramento, CA) recorded and RBI base-knock to highlight the frame.

Salem State answered with a run of their own in the bottom half of the third on an RBI two-bagger from senior Brett Cahill (Gloucester, MA) for the 4-1 score.

However, the Blue and Gold added single runs in both the sixth and the seventh innings to seal the victory.

Freshman Jake Ryan (Whitinsville, MA) turned in a sacrifice fly to right field in the top of the sixth to plate junior Jeff Bolio (Oxford, MA) who jacked a triple two batters before. Ruggiero then added an RBI groundout in the seventh.

 The Lancers outhit the hosts 8-6 in the opener.

Libuda turned in his sixth complete game of the season after tossing seven strong surrendering only one run on six hits with four walks and four strikeouts to improve to 4-2 on the year.

Viking senior Ryan Hyjek (Tolland, CT) absorbed the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits with one walk and three strikeouts in four and 2/3 innings of work. Hyjek falls to 6-2 with the setback.

Osburn finished game-one 2-for-4 at the dish with an RBI and sophomore Dennis Duplessis (Marlboro, MA) added two hits out of the bottom spot in the order in three plate appearances as he crossed home twice.

The nightcap was all Worcester State as they jumped out to an early 6-0 lead after two stanzas of play.

After freshman Adam Barry (Auburn, MA) drove in a run with a groundout in the first the Lancers proceeded to score five unearned runs in the top of the second. The frame was underscored with an RBI single from Barry and a key infield miscue at second base which helped score Ryan and freshman Brian Bonacquisti (Pittsfield, MA).

WSU added three more scores in the top of the sixth when an unearned run was sandwiched between a Ruggiero sacrifice fly and an run producing base-knock by George for the final score.

Worcester State outslugged the Vikings 13-7 in the finale.

Doyle went the distance as he scattered seven hits with five free passes and three strikeouts to improve to 5-3 on the year with his second consecutive shutout.

Freshman Mike Richardson (Belmont, MA) was dealt the loss after giving up six unearned runs on five hits with one walk over the first one and 1/3 innings to fall to 3-3 on the year.

George, Bolio, Duplessis, and Bonacquisti each recorded a pair of hits in the second game while Ryan led the way with a 3-for-4 performance at the dish for the visitors.

Story By John Hanna --- Sports Information Graduate Assistant

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