Lancers Sweep Doubleheader from Trailblazers

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – It took a few extra days to complete, but the Worcester State baseball team took both games of a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader against MCLA that was started briefly on Saturday before being postponed due to hail.

The Lancers beat the Trailblazers 2-0 in the opening game and then won the second 7-inning affair 8-2. They improve to 9-9 overall and 3-2 in MASCAC play. They'll head to Clark on Wednesday for a 3:00 PM non-conference game before a conference series again Westfield State this weekend. 

Game 1: Worcester State 2, MCLA 0

Junior pitcher Ben Smith (Bourne, Mass.) picked up where he left off on Saturday, when he struck out the final two batters in the first before the rain delay.

He went on to strike out eight and spin a complete-game gem, allowing just four hits in seven shutout innings.

Worcester State was held to just four hits as well, but they cashed in on their opportunities with single runs in the fourth and fifth.

The eventual winning run came in the fourth when Sean Dutton (Leominster, Mass.) singled to left field to score Michael Chaves, Jr. (Hudson, Mass.), who had led off with a hit by pitch. Sean Devin (Lynn, Mass.) also had a single and a stolen base in that frame.

The run in the fifth came without the benefit of a base hit. Another hit by pitch started the inning, this one worn by Thomas DiBattista (Hudson, Mass.), who stole second and scored on a fielder's choice and a throwing error. 

Game 2: Worcester State 8, MCLA 2

Worcester scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth to break a 2-2 tie heading to the final frame.

Devin was 3-4 with two runs batted in, Grant Hartley (Auburn, Maine) had two hits and two RBI, and Tom Halliwell (Leominster, Mass.) scored three times.

Joey Zawisza (Newington, Conn.) went five innings and struck out four, allowing just one earned run. He gave way to Danny DiMassimo (Pittsfield, Mass.), who went two scoreless and hitless innings with two strikeouts to collect his first career victory (1-1).

Hartley knocked in Halliwell with a single in the bottom of the first to give the Lancers the lead, and then doubled him in to tie the game in the third after a pair of Trailblazers runs in the second inning had put the visitors ahead.

Chris Ausiello (Tyngsboro, Mass.), who was 2-3, scored Devin on a single in the sixth to jump-start the rally, which included a sacrifice fly by Anthony Iamarone (), a run-scoring single by DiBattista, and a two-run single to center by Devin.