Baseball, Salem State Battle To Split In MASCAC Twinbill

Worcester, MA --- Worcester State and Salem State split a MASCAC doubleheader series this afternoon at the Kevin Lyons Baseball Diamond.  

Senior Nick Gikas (Danvers, MA) went 3-for-3 and classmate Jared Kuzio (Franklin, MA) earned the 3-1 victory on the hill in the opener for the Lancers while SSU freshman Will Twiss (Masconomet, MA) hurled a complete-game three-hitter to pace the Vikings to a 2-1 triumph.

Salem State (17-12, 6-4 MASCAC) opened the game with the 1-0 advantage in the top of the second when sophomore Teghan Malionek (Salem, MA) plated junior Mike Davis (Peabody, MA) with a single up the middle. Davis led off the frame with a solo knock of his own and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice.

The Lancers (18-13, 7-3 MASCAC) tied up the score in the bottom of the third on a run producing single, which helped score sophomore Jake Ryan (Whitinsville, MA).

In Ryan's next plate appearance in the fifth, he gave Worcester State the 2-1 advantage with his first career home run – a blast that hit the scoreboard in right field.

Gikas tacked on some insurance in the bottom of the sixth as he notched his third hit on an RBI single to the gap in right center, which scored senior Cody Osburn (Sacramento, CA), as two outs were in the stanza.

Against a tiring Kuzio, the Vikings threatened by loading the bases in the top of the seventh. With reigning MASCAC Player of the Year, junior Richard Fecteau (Newbury, MA) at the plate, senior Ben Libuda (Auburn, MA) fanned him swinging before retiring the final batter on a fielder's choice to end the game.

Kuzio (3-1) was solid in the opener as he fanned one over six 1/3 frames of work while he scattered eight hits, yielded one earned run and walked three. The save for Libuda was his first of the year and second overall for the Lancer bullpen.

Sophomore Mike Richardson (Belmont, MA) shouldered the setback for Salem State. Richardson (4-2) allowed three earned runs on seven hits to go with two walks and one punch out.

Freshman Dan Connors (Danvers, MA) was the lone multi-hitter for the Vikings with two base-knocks as he went 2-for-3. SSU outhit their opponents, 8-7.

In the nightcap, Barry notched his team-best 27th RBI on a sacrifice fly by bringing in George for the 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first. George logged his 10th two-bagger of the year and he advanced 90 feet on a ground-out to move into prime position at third.  

Entering the second, Twiss settled into a grove and he got stronger as the game went along. He hurled six shutout frames of two-hit baseball while the Lancers only got to second base in the third and fifth innings the rest of the way.

Salem State used the effort to rally for two unearned runs in the top of the sixth.

Following a walk by Malionek, he came around to score on a safety squeeze at the top of the order by senior Kevin Carens (Northboro, MA). Carens himself was safe on the play on an errant throw by the pitcher and he moved to second on the miscue.

After Caren's moved up one base on a wild pitch, Fecteau hit a long fly ball to score the runner at third.

The Lancers never threatened as the only one to reach base was Barry with a single up the middle in the sixth, but he was stranded on first.

Sophomore Zach Zona (Auburn, MA/St. Peter-Marian) was the tough luck loser in the game. Zona (2-3) permitted two unearned runs on three hits to go with three walks and seven strikeouts.  

Davis was the lone multi-hitter for either side with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate in a game that saw six total base-knocks.

Both squads will play MASCAC opponents on the road this Thursday in 2 PM doubleheaders. Worcester State makes the trek to Westfield State while Salem State takes on MCLA.