Worcester State Falls to MIT, 9-6

WORCESTER, Mass. – In a game that saw an even 13 hits from each team, the MIT Engineers defeated the Lancers by a score of 9-6 as Worcester State allowed five unearned runs to cross the plate on five errors throughout the contest.

With the win, MIT advances to 12-6 overall, and the Lancers dip to 7-12 on the season.

MIT's Kyle Kocher (Meza, Ariz.) led the Engineers' offense as he batted 4-for-4 with a walk. Matt Johnston (Portola Valley, Calif.) collected three hits and a game-high three RBI. Austin Filiere (Chandler, Ariz.) reached base three times on a single, home run, and a walk.

Worcester State's offense was steered by Ben Palatino (Hudson, Mass.), Jake Ryan (Northbridge, Mass.), and Adam Barry (Auburn, Mass,) who each collected two hits apiece for the Lancers in the loss. Mike Ferrara (Easton, Mass.) notched a team-high two RBI for the Blue and Gold.

Each team put up two runs apiece in the 1^st inning. MIT scored their two on a 2-RBI single from Johnston while the Lancers scored theirs on a groundout, and an RBI single from Seth Leslie (Phillipston, Mass.).  

The Engineers took back the lead in the top of the 2^nd when Filiere sent two runs in on 2-run blast to left field with two outs. They added another as Garrett Greenwood (Edmond, Okla.) reached on a triple to right center, and Kocher plated him home on a single to centerfield, advancing the score to 5-2. All three runs were unearned.

MIT extended their lead to four in the 3^rd inning when Drago hit an RBI single up the middle to score Jared Schwait (Boca Raton, Fla.) who had reached base on an error by Worcester State's first baseman.

Worcester State added another run to tighten the gap to 6-3 in the 4^th on an RBI single from pinch hitter, Brian Poillucci (N. Attleboro, Mass.).

Down by just three runs, Worcester State allowed MIT three runs on three hits in the top of the 9^th to extend the Engineers' lead to six. The runs were scored on a single from Johnston, an RBI walk from Kevin Cuneo (Beverly, Mass.), and another RBI single from Schwait.

Worcester State fell short of a comeback in the reverse side of the inning, as they were only able to score three runs on hits from Brian Bonacquisti (Pittsfield, Mass.), Palatino, Ryan, and Ferrara.

MIT's starting pitcher, David Hesslink (San Diego, Calif.) pitched for one inning, and then Trey Roberts (Cedar Park, Texas) and Tony Rice (Colorado Springs, Colo.) came in relief and only allowed a combined one run in seven innings pitched. Greenwood closed out the game in the 9^th inning on the mound, while Rice earned the win.

Worcester State's opener, Matt Irzyk (Westfield, Mass.) suffered his first loss of the season in five innings pitched.

Worcester State resumes play on Friday (Apr. 14) when they host Bridgewater State in a MASCAC doubleheader, starting gat 2 p.m. at the Lyons Diamond. The Engineers also return to action on the same date as they travel to Babson College, before hosting the Beavers in a Saturday afternoon doubleheader.