Lancers Take the Split versus Diplomats

Worcester, MA- After an off day to recharge the Worcester State Baseball team (1-5,0-0) faced off with the F&M Diplomats in their second to last day of action in Florida.

Final

Worcester State: 3

F&M: 2

How it Happened:

Worcester would jump out to an early lead as junior Alan Carpenter (Richmond, RI) would single down the right side for an RBI that sent junior Kevin Doyle (Bridgewater, MA) across home plate. Doyle would do the favors in the second for junior Tad Giardina (Reading, MA) as Worcester claimed the 2-0 lead. The top of the third would find the Diplomats grab a run back and the Lancers managed to hold the lead until the top of the fifth when F&M worked the bases for a tie game. 

The bottom of the sixth had Worcester reclaiming the lead as junior Ryan Jewett (Natick, MA) would send the ball to third while junior Cameron Early (Worcester, MA) bolted from the bag to claim the third run. Worcester would load the bases with two outs in a bid to extend their control into the top of the seventh but were unable to add any further insurance runs to the scoreboard. 

Sophomore Matt Direnzo (Leicester, MA) would work to hold onto the win in the top of the seventh, striking out the first batter swinging followed with a fly out to center and ground out to second to secure the Lancer victory in game one action. Direnzo would claim the complete game victory on two strikeouts and allowing seven hits. 

Final

Worcester State: 5

F&M: 10

How it Happened:

 The second meeting started a touch slower as the opening inning found both teams unable to make any contact at the plate. This standstill would last through the top of the second. F&M would strike first this game in the bottom of the inning off a first batter homer to left field for the 1-0 lead.

The third inning would find the Lancers recording two runs as sophomore Derek De La Cruz (Providence, RI) singled up the middle to send Giardina across the plate. Sophomore Riggs Catlin (Dedham, MA) sent a zinger up the middle to bring De La Cruz home for a 2-1 lead. The lead would not hold for long though as the Diplomats grabbed back nine runs back in the bottom of the inning for a 10-2 control.

Worcester would claim two back as Giardina would drill a single to left field sending senior Nathan Thurber (Framingham, MA) and junior Tyler Normandie (Lowell, MA) across for a 10-4 score. A wild pitch would push across Giardina before the inning came to close for Worcester with the score resting at 10-5.

The fifth and sixth were a silent inning for both teams as Worcester shifted their focus to the seventh in an attempt to keep the action moving forward, but were unable to come back, falling 10-5.

What's Next:

The Lancers (2-6, 0-0) close out their Spring Break trip tomorrow morning as they take on Bethel for the second time this trip, this time in a double header seven inning meeting between the two programs. First pitch of game one is set for 9am.