Lancers Double Down on Falcons to Sweep the Day

Worcester, MA- After splitting with Salem State this past weekend, the Worcester State Baseball team (8-9, 6-1) is back in double header action this afternoon as they took on Fitchburg State in a Tuesday battle.

Final

Worcester State: 11

Fitchburg State: 5

How it Happened:

After a quiet first inning, the Lancers offense would get going in the second as two singles by senior Nathan Thurber (Framingham, MA) and junior Derek De La Cruz (Providence, RI) and a Fitchburg error would give the Lancers a 2-0 lead. Senior Nolan Turner (Barnstable, MA), who would get the start for the Blue and Gold, would get out of a jam and force two runners to be left on base to maintain the Lancer lead.

A quiet top of the third by the Lancers would see the Falcons capitalize off their inning mishaps and put a run on the board, Turner however would have a nice regroup and finish out the inning punching out the last two batters to keep the Lancers in front 2-1.

The fourth would see another offensive opportunity for the Lancers to strike and they would do just that. Junior Alan Carpenter (Richmond, RI) would get things started, reaching on an error by the Falcons, De La Cruz would get his second single of the afternoon as junior Cameron Early (Worcester, MA) would get a bases clearing single bringing in both Carpenter and De La Cruz. To cap it off junior Ryan Jewett (Natick, MA) would hit a sacrifice fly bringing in Early to put up three in the inning and extend their lead 5-1. Fitchburg would get another run in the bottom of the frame but the Lancers would still be in front 5-2 through 4 innings.

The top of the fifth would see another Lancers gain, this time from senior Tyler Normandie (Lowell, MA) who hit a home run deep into left field to put the Lancers on top 6-2. That home run would kickstart another big Lancers offensive inning, Thurber, Carpenter and De La Cruz would all reach on base again, before junior Early would hit a sacrifice fly to put another run on the board followed up by Carpenter scoring on a Falcon error. Another Falcon error would bring in De La Cruz to cap off a 4 run inning by the Lancers and a 9-2 lead. The bottom of the fifth would place an additional run in the Falcons corner as the Lancers held on to the 9-3 lead into the sixth. 

Bottom of the sixth would see the Lancers make the call to the bullpen to bring in first year Collin Moody (Dudley, MA) to the mound. Moody would get through the inning clean with a pop out and force a double play going into the final inning.

The final inning would see another big Lancer offensive inning with De La Cruz now 4/4 on the day with another single and then DeLacruz added a double with Early would bring both in with a double of his own to extend the Lancer lead 11-3. The Falcons would still show life in the bottom of the inning, driving in 2 runs off a single, a hit by pitch, double and a sacrifice fly to keep the Falcons chances alive. Moody would kill off any Falcon momentum with a strike out to win 11-5.

Offensively Derek De La Cruz would have a day going four for four with an RBI,  Early went two for four with 3 RBI's, while Normandie would have a hit with a Home Run. On the pitching side Turner would throw five innings with 7 hits given up with three earned runs and five punch outs in the contest.

Final

Worcester State: 2

Fitchburg State: 1

How it Happened:

For the Lancers, senior Zachary Scotti (Warwick, RI) would get the start in game two and would set the tone in the first inning with getting a punch out and forcing a ground out and a fly out to begin game two action.

The back end of the second would see the Falcons strike first on the run column after a wild pitch by Scotti and a sacrifice bunt to put the Falcons lead early at 1-0.

The third would see a quick call to the bullpen as senior Steven Thomas (Worcester, MA) would enter game number two in relief for Scotti. After a hit by pitch, Thomas would have a nice bounce back forcing a sacrifice bunt and punching out two to end the inning.

The top half of the fourth would see the Lancers get on the board to settle the score. After a double by Normandie, De La Cruz would get on the hit column in game 2 and get an RBI single driving in Normandie.

After a pitchers duel in the fifth and sixth, the Lancers would find an offensive window and take the advantage. Down to the final out sophomore Riggs Catlin (Dedham, MA) would hit a single to center field driving in Early to give the Lancers the 2-1 lead going into the bottom half of the inning. Thomas who came in the third would continue his dominant performance and finish off the falcons 2-1.

Offensively Catlin would go 2/4 with a RBI, and Thomas on the pitching side would go 5 innings with 2 hits given up and 6 punch outs.

What's Next:

The Lancers (10-9,8-1) are right back in action tomorrow as they wrap up their series with Salem State tomorrow at 3pm.