Lancers Answer Back After Loss with Dominant Sweep Over Framingham

Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Lancers (12-16) traveled to Bowditch Field to take on the (19-10) Framingham St. Rams after taking a hard fought 3-2 loss against the Rams the previous day. 

After a quiet first few innings for the Lancers, minus a run scored by the Rams at the bottom of the first, they were able to scrape together a handful of runs to put them on the board during the top of the fourth inning. Following second-baseman sophomore Xavier Quezada's (Providence, R.I.) double to left center-field, senior Chris Ausiello (Tyngsboro, MA) was able to find himself back at home plate to finally put the Lancers up on the board and tie the game. This gave Quezada his first and only RBI of the game while also allowing graduate student Sean Devin (Lynn, MA) to advance to third base.

Devin was able to score next to put the Lancers up 2-1 on the Rams following a fly out to center-field which was hit by rookie Joe Auger (Lowell, MA). This fly ended up being caught and counted towards WSU's total outs for the inning, however, gave Auger an RBI and allowed the Lancers to maintain the lead.

Worcester scored once again a few plays later once senior Zack Roberts (Northbridge, MA) hit a single to right field which allowed Quezada to run home and put the Lancers up 3-1. Following the fourth inning, both teams would fail to score again which ultimately allowed the Lancers to steal the first game 3-1. 

The Lancers looked to sweep the series going into the second game and once again were met with a Rams score to put the game up 1-0 in the bottom of the first, this time a home run to left field. Immediately after the innings switched, WSU sophomore Anthony Lamarone (Providence, R.I.) answered back with his own home run to left field to even the score. 

Following the inning going into the top of the third, the Lancers would go on a scoring run with a total of four altogether. Taking advantage of Zack Roberts' single to right field, rookie Nate Thurber (Framingham, MA) scored in his hometown to increase the lead 2-1.

Both senior Alex Sorenti-Burns (Sagamore Beach, MA) and junior Tom Halliwell (Leominster, MA) advanced to their respective bases after hits, allowing Roberts to advance on home plate and increase the lead yet again. Following his homer for the Lancers first score, Lamarone was up yet again to hit a single up the middle, allowing both Sorenti-Burns and Halliwell to advance for a double score, now 5-1.

Entering the top of the fourth, Thurber scored for WSU off a Rams wild pitch to advance the total to 6-1, allowing the Lancers to begin gaining a comfortable lead. After yet again little action and no scores for Framingham, in the top of the fifth Iamarone shocked the Rams with yet another home run to left field, assisting Sorenti-Burns for his second score of the day as well. 

There was still more action to be had in the top of the fifth as Thurber singled to center field and advanced to second following the throw which set up Quezada for a score along with junior catcher Colin Fitzgerald (Auburn, MA) being able to advance to third. Following a wild pitch and Thurber running for second, Fitzgerald was able to take advantage and up the score 10-1. 

Heading into the bottom of the second, the Rams were finally able to put themselves on the board after a drought, gaining two scores off a hit doubled to center field, cutting the total lead to seven. Once the Lancers were up to bat, however, they effectively iced the game with a total of four runs to increase the score 14-3. Following Quezada's single to left field, Ausiello advanced to second which allowed both Lamarone and Sorenti-Burns to score, each getting their third of the day.

Once Thurber was back up to bat, he singled to the left side, gaining two RBI's: one to Quezada (his second run of the game) and the other to Ausiello for his first of the game. The Rams would answer back with a single score, giving their total on the day four. This would conclude the Lancers sweep with the second game finishing up with a score of 14-4.

Worcester State (14-16, 8-5) has three opponents left on the season facing Bridgewater State (24-8), Mass Maritime (17-13), and Fitchburg State (14-14) with the Falcons hosting the Lancers on April 25th with first pitch scheduled for 2 PM.