Lancers Claim Series with MCLA in Ninth Inning Comeback

Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Baseball (2-11, 1-1)  looks to clinch the series versus MCLA (4-11, 1-1) this afternoon as they journey to North Adams, MA to take on the oft rescheduled Trailblazers nine-inning game before the weather moves in. While the Lancers dropped their first game versus MCLA yesterday, they rebounded in a major fashion in game two coming away with the 22-2 win in a game that had to be called on account of darkness at Kevin D. Lyons Stadium. Worcester will look to continue their run spree today and nab their second win in conference.

Final

MCLA: 6

Worcester State: 7

How it Happened:

The Lancers would have sophomore Craig Barnes (Billerica, MA) serving as pitcher for the squad today who came into the game with 10 strikeouts already on the season. Barnes and the Lancers defense would hold the Trailblazers hitless through the first inning but an error on a stolen base would see MCLA grab run number one early in this game. Worcester would attempt to respond in the top of the third but would be kept scoreless while the Blue and Gold managed to keep the Trailblazers hitless until the bottom of the fifth. MCLA would knock in two more runs in the fifth but Worcester State would rally strong in the sixth to put the game back at a tie game.

Senior Tyler Smith (Leominster, MA) would open up the action with a single down the right field line with senior Tom Halliwell (Leominster, MA)  would push him to second and claim first for himself after a successful bunt to the pitcher. A double steal with one out would advance them both up a base where the bases would then be loaded when sophomore Joe Auger (Lowell, MA) was walked. Senior Frankie Hernandez (Framingham, MA) would drill a single down the right field line just staying fair that would bring Halliwell and Smith in for two runs and force a pitching change for MCLA. First year Kevin Doyle (Bridgewater, MA) would come in to pinch hit for the Lancers and singling to centerfield to send Hernandez across for the third run and tying run of the game.  

Barnes would continue to show his inning endurance as he held MCLA to just a single hit through the 6th and 7th before junior Jarret Morrill (Chelmsford, MA) was called in to relieve Barnes.The bottom of the eight would see MCLA grab three runs off of two errors by Worcester State to take a 6-3 lead and another swap at pitcher as first year Franklin Sierra (Boston, MA) would take over the mound and stem the rising tide. 

Worcester State regains the lead in the 9th inning by scoring four runs, and the 7-6 lead over the Trail Blazers. Senior Tom Halliwell (Leominster, MA) would start the scoring action off for Worcester in the top of the inning as he singled and advanced to second on an error by the right fielder which would also bring home Ryan Jewett for run four. A Hernandez double would nring in junior Anthony Lamarone (Providence, RI) and Halliwell  to tie up the game 6-6. The clinching RBI would come off the bat of Doyle who would single bringing Hernandez home for run seven.

Sophomore Zachary Scotti (Warwick, RI) would close out the action for Worcester facing five batters and allowing just a single hit in the inning to secure the series victory for the Lancers. 

Barnes would go 6.2 innings in the game allowing just three runs while striking out six while Sierra and Scotti would combine for just one hit and two strikeouts in their outings. 

What's Next:

Worcester State, who now sitting at (3-11, 2-1) will journey to Westfield State on Friday at 3:30pm in their second conference bout of the season.