Lancers Claim Extra Innings Victory in Split with Bears

Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Baseball team (5-19, 4-7) returned to action after a shift of a day down at Bridgewater State, in a bid to claim the series after dropping game one of the three game set on Friday afternoon. 

Final- Game 1 (10-Innings)

Worcester State: 2

Bridgewater State: 1

Final- Game 2

Worcester State: 3

Bridgewater State: 11

How it Happened: 

The Bears started this one off quickly, after a lead-off triple to begin the inning, the two-hole hitter was able to bring a run home for the first score of the game for either team after a groundout to shortstop to give the Bears a 1-0 lead at the bottom of the first. 

After multiple innings of great defense by both squads, the Lancers were finally able to tie the game and put a run on the board in the top of the sixth after sophomore infielder Nathan Thurber (Framingham, MA) was able to shoot a line drive single into center field to bring home junior Tyler Smith (Leominster, MA) after he was able to reach on an error to begin the inning. 

The game would remain a pitching duel as senior Ben Smith (Bourne, MA) would go the complete seven innings allowing just the one run as Worcester would force the game into extra innings to decide the victor.

In the top of the tenth, the Lancers were able to break the tie and take a 2-1 lead after two back-to-back singles to put a runner in scoring position, bringing up Thurber once again who was able to reach base after a throwing error to first base that brought in the go ahead run. 

Ben Smith would go for the complete 10-inning victory for Worcester, recording 12 strikeouts on the outing and allowing just one run on six hits while the Lancers defense would be nearly flawless in the outing to secure the game one victory. 

Game two would start with a bit of excitement as Tyler Smith would get on base early and a passed ball would see him on second. A follow up pop fly from first year Ryan Jewett (Natick, MA) would have the controversial call of caught but still advance Smith to third before another passed ball would see him walk across home plate. 

Junior Mike Bean (Tampa, FL) would start on the mound for game two and quickly grab two outs but an error on a throw to first for the final out would send the Bears baserunner across home to tie the game up 1-1.

In the top of the third the Lancers were able to reclaim a one run lead after a wild pitch would put a runner in scoring position with sophomore catcher Joe Auger (Lowell, MA) up to the plate. Auger connected on a pitch right down the middle to bring home the runner with an RBI double to center field. 

Only one batter later, another wild pitch from the Bears starter was able to put Auger on third with junior infielder Michael Cooper stepping into the box. Cooper was then able to drop in a single to bring in another run for the Lancers who took a two run lead. 

In the bottom of the third the Bears would then respond with two scores of their own thanks to a two-run single that just got past the second baseman into center field, which once again tied the game up at three runs a piece. This would not be the last of the scoring for the Bears, as they were treated to a three-run home run later in the inning, which then gave them a three score lead over Worcester to end the third. 

In the back end of the fifth, the Bears would pile on the scoring with another three-run shot to make it a six run advantage over the Lancers, which eventually led to another pitching change for Worcester to try and get back on track. Later in the inning with two outs, a throwing error from shortstop to first base would then bring home another run for the Bears that raised the Worcester deficit to seven. 

The Bears would eventually put the nail in the coffin with another run coming across to score thanks to an RBI double to make it an eight run advantage for Bridgewater. The Lancers were not able to produce another run in the front end of the seventh, which led to a Bears victory and the two teams splitting this double header at one win a piece. 

What's Next:

Worcester State now moves to (6-20, 5-8) and gets right back to conference action on Tuesday when they host the Fitchburg State Falcons for two. Game one's seven inning action will begin at 2pm.