Lancers Clinch 3rd Seed in MASCAC Playoffs with Sweep of MCLA

Worcester, MA- with the final two conference games docked for the day, the Worcester State Baseball team (16-18, 14-8) entered the game knowing what was needed for their fate, sweep and enter the postseason as the three seed.

Final

Worcester State: 9

MCLA: 0

How it Happened:

The top of the first would see the Lancers go on a big run to begin game one action. Junior Alan Carpenter (Richmond, RI) would kick things off with an RBI double bringing in junior Kevin Doyle (Bridgewater, MA). Following that, junior Tyler Normandie (Lowell, MA) would clear the bases hitting a three run home run to left field to put a 4 spot on the board for the Blue and Gold.

After a quiet second inning , the top of the third would see more action for Worcester. A single each by senior Nathan Thurber (Framingham, MA), who is in the hunt for career 100, and Carpenter would then set up Normandie to clear the bases once again with another three run home run this time to center field to extend the lead 7-0.

The top of the fifth would see another good inning for the blue and gold. Thurber, with career 100, and Carpenter would hit back to back singles and Normandie would get his third of the contest with a single bringing in Thurber, and then a double play would see Carpenter brought in to extend the lead 9-0.

The final two innings would be a pitchers duel, And a combined shutout performance on the bump from sophomore Jackson Hildred (Bellingham, MA) junior Evan Samsel (Tauton, MA) and junior Tedy Cove (Worcester, MA) would help the Lancers beat the Trailblazers 9-0 in game 1.

Final

Worcester State: 13

MCLA: 6

How it Happened:

Game two would begin with reverse deja-vu as the Trailblazers would get three runs courtesy of two singles, a walk, a two run double and a wild pitch bringing home the runner from third to get an early 3-0 start.

The top of the second would see the Blue and Gold punch right back to take the lead. The run would begin with three straight singles from Carpenter, Normandie and senior Mason Bates (Shrewsbury, MA), then junior Tad Giardina (Reading, MA) would be hit by pitch bringing in Carpenter, then junior Ryan Jewett (Natick, MA) would get an RBI single, in his own hunt for career 100 with his first of the game and 96th of his career, bringing in Normandie, then a sacrifice fly by junior Derek De La Cruz (Providence, RI) brought in Bates and to cap the run would see Doyle hit a rbi single driving in Giardina to give the Blue and Gold the 4-3 lead.

The top of the third would see more scoring success as Giardina would snag an RBI single to bring in Normandie to extend the lead 5-3. Bottom of the frame would see a call to the bullpen to bring in sophomore Matt Direnzo (Leicester, MA) and would post a quality inning with a punchout and forcing both a fly out and a pop out.

The top of the fourth would see another big run for the Blue and Gold. Sophomore Riggs Catlin (Dedham, MA) would kick things off with a double, then Doyle would post an RBi single bringing in Catlin, then a Thurber walk would set up Carpenter to clear the bases with an RBI double bringing in both Thurber and Doyle, and closing it out would see Bates hit an RBI single bringing in Carpenter to put a four spot on the board to extend the Lancer lead 9-3.

The top of the fifth would see another score by the Lancers. Another double by Catlin and a walk to Doyle would then set up hit 101 for Thurber driving in Catlin and then Carpenter would record another hit with a bases clearing double to put the Lancers up 12-3. MCLA in the bottom of the frame would hit a two run homer but Direnzo would respond getting three straight outs with two of them being punch outs to ease the damage by the Trailblazers.

The top of the sixth would see a single by De La Cruz and a Catlin walk would bring Doyle back up to the plate and he would follow up with an RBI double to put another run on the board for the Blue and Gold bringing in De La Cruz to extend the lead 13-5. Bottom of the frame would see another call to the bullpen as senior Joe Auger (Lowell, MA) would come in relief for Direnzo and despite giving up a home run early in the frame, he would post a solid inning with forcing two fly outs and a pop out following the home run.

The final inning would see one more call to the bullpen as senior Zachary Scotti (Warwick, RI) would make his first appearance of the game and seal the 13-6 victory and third seed for the Lancers.

What's Next:

The Blue and Gold (18-18, 16-8) are back in action for the MASCAC Playoffs that start on Thursday with the brackets announced later today.