Ryan, Powers, Kuzio Pace Baseball In 10-3 Win Over UMass Boston

Worcester, MA --- Sophomore teammates Jake Ryan (Whitinsville, MA) and Mike Powers (Weymouth, MA) tallied three hits apiece and senior Jared Kuzio (Franklin, MA) earned the victory with six strong innings as Worcester State defeated UMass Boston, 10-3, in non-conference baseball action at the Kevin Lyons Baseball Diamond.

With the victory the Lancers improve to 22-14 while the Beacons fall to 17-13 in the setback.

UMass Boston took over the early 1-0 advantage on an RBI ground out by sophomore Daniel Mantoni (Northbridge, MA) to plate junior Nick Brothers (Danville, CA), who led off the game with a two-bagger.

Worcester State came right back and took over the lead for good with three scores in the bottom of the same frame.

Sophomore Adam Barry (Auburn, MA/Holy Name) had an RBI single to help score senior Zach George (Attleboro, MA) and then Barry came home on a run scoring triple into right field by senior David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA). Senior Cody Osburn (Sacramento, CA) laid down a squeeze bunt to drive in Ruggiero to cap the inning.

In the bottom of the second, the Lancers built up the margin to 5-1 on RBI singles by George and sophomore Dan McGuill (E. Longmeadow, MA).

One more tally came home when senior Jeff Bolio (Oxford, MA) cross the plate from third on a wild pitch for the five-run advantage after five innings of play.

The Beacons got to the bullpen in the top of the seventh, loading the bases against senior Michael Ivas (Princeton, MA/Holy Name).

With sophomore Tyler Barrie (Oxford, MA) on the hill, he induced a 6-4 fielder's choice ground out to score UMB freshman Sal Froscendo (Derby, CT), but an errant throw by the shortstop brought one more run across the plate. 

Barrie though got out of the jam by inducing another ground out to prevent any further damage.

Ahead by three scores in a 6-3 contest, the bats came alive one more time in the bottom of the eighth and the Lancer offense put a four-spot on the board. The frame was underscored by run producing plate appearances by Ryan, Osburn and Bolio.

Barrie hurled a scoreless eighth and ninth to pick up his second save of the season after coming into the contest with the tying run in the on-deck circle.

Kuzio (4-1) tossed six solid innings permitting one earned run and two walks and he rung up three on strikes. In his last four outings, Kuzio has four victories with a 1.37 ERA in 26.1 frames of work.

Senior Steve Roche (Worcester, MA/St. Peter-Marian) shouldered the loss for the Beacons. Roche (2-3) allowed six runs (five earned) on 11 hits over five innings. He fanned one batter and plunked two others.

Worcester State pounded out 16 hits as those who recorded two base-knocks included George, Ruggiero and senior Nick Gikas (Danvers, MA) while George, Barry and Gikas finished with a pair of runs scored each.

There were no multi-hitters for UMass Boston in a six-hit attack, but Mantoni did chip in with two RBIs. 

The Lancers will play again tomorrow against UMass Dartmouth in a 3:30 PM affair. It's the rubber game of their season-series.

The Beacons take on regionally-ranked Endicott on Monday at Campanili Stadium with a 5:30 first-pitch.