Kolanda's Late Long Ball Lifts Baseball to Fifth Straight Win

AUBURNDALE, Fla. - Junior Kenan Kolanda (Sterling, Mass.) broke an eighth inning tie with a home run over the left field wall as the Worcester State University baseball team defeated Husson University 5-3 Friday afternoon at Lake Myrtle Sports Complex.

With the win, the Lancers win their fifth consecutive game and move to 5-2 on the young season.

Worcester State put up a two spot in the top of the first inning on a two-run single from junior Kevin Larkin (Rocky Hill, Conn.), scoring seniors Michael Ferrara (Easton, Mass.) and Ben Palatino (Hudson, Mass.).

With the Lancers ahead 2-1 in the top of the third, Larkin struck again with an RBI single to put his team back in front by a pair at 3-1. Two innings later, Ethan Stoddard knotted it up a 3-3 with a two-run double.

The score was still 3-3 into the top of the eighth, when Kolanda came through with the clutch go-ahead home run. Sophomore Jake Breton (Wilbraham, Mass.) added some insurance for the Lancers in the ninth with an RBI single, which would result in the game's final run.

Sophomore Kyle Gray (Braintree, Mass.) got the win for Worcester State, throwing a stellar four and a third innings of no-hit ball. Senior Josh Boucher (Auburn, Mass.) got a no-decision in the victory, hurling 4.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits.

Worcester State will close out its Spring Break trip on Saturday with a 10 a.m. contest against Rutgers-Newark.

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