Babson Outlasts Baseball, 17-14, In Nine-Inning Slugfest

Worcester, MA --- Junior Billy Miller (Sagamore Beach, MA) went 4-for-6 with a grand-slam, seven RBIs and a trio of runs scored to help lift Babson to a 17-14 triumph this afternoon over Worcester State in non-conference baseball action at Clark's Granger Field.

The Beavers (13-4) were also paced by freshman Chris Warren (Medfield, MA) and junior Joe Nixon (Foxboro, MA) who both tallied three hits apiece for the Beavers as they combined for four trips to home plate and five plated runs. Third-year Travis Jonasson (Needham, MA), second-year Chris Kucher (Westwood, MA) and junior Chris Cleary (Milton, MA) all recorded two base-knocks apiece.

For the Lancers (8-4), sophomore Chris Creen (Worcester, MA/St. John's) and senior Corey McDonald (Hudson, MA) both finished with three hits while they both drove in three. Fourth-year Paul Rodriguez (San Antonio, TX), junior Kyle Wilson (Norwich, CT), sophomore Nick Gezotis (Westfield, MA) and freshman Nick Bonofiglio (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) each finished with two hits.

The two squads teamed to pound out 35 hits in the nine-inning affair, 12 of which were for extra bases. Both teams also combined to use 10 pitchers and 10 substitutions in the batting lineup and in the field were made during the duration of the contest.

Babson jumped on the board with seven runs over the first two innings. The Beavers took advantage of five walks and three wild pitches from junior Cruz Rosado (Clinton, MA/Worcester Tech), who started the contest for WSU. The visitors were highlighted by a two-run double in the opening frame by Jonasson and Miller's grand-slam to the deep part of left center in the top of the second.

But Worcester State stormed back putting up a run in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by junior Joe Eramo (Shirley, MA) and six runs in the third as the Lancers knotted the score 7-7 after three. The Blue and Gold batted around in the third and drove in four with two outs including a two-run single by Wilson.

Babson promptly responded with a three-run fourth inning. Miller started the rally with a single, Kucher walked and then Cleary plated Miller with a ground-ball though the right side. Kucher and Cleary both moved into scoring position on a failed pick-off attempt before sophomore John Bothelho (Tempe, AZ) and Nixon tallied back-to-back RBI ground outs to cap off the scoring.

Miller would help the Beavers open up an 11-7 advantage by tacking on a pair of runs in the fifth with a two-run single to center field.

Facing a four run deficit, the Blue and Gold clawed their way back into the contest with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. WSU registered their runs on a plated run by Wilson and an error in the infield with two outs.

After Babson got a run in the sixth on an RBI single by Warren for the 13-9 edge, the visitors would put up a crooked number in the seventh as they took advantage of a dropped fly ball in the outfield. Jonasson came home on a walk with the bases loaded and then Nixon came up with what would prove to be the game-winning hit with a bases clearing double.

With a runner at third in the seventh, Creen would end the frame with a ground out to end the inning. Creen and freshman Michael Goulden (Rehoboth, MA) both combined to pitch a pair of scoreless innings – retiring six of the last eight – to keep Worcester State in the game.

Sparked by a solo home-run by McDonald in the bottom of the eighth and a two-run blast by sophomore pinch-hitter Kurt Sabacinski (Worcester, MA/St Peter-Marian) in the ninth, the Lancers used the momentum to plate two more on back-to-back run producing base knocks by junior pinch-hitter Jack Rafferty (Thompson, CT) and Rodriguez.

As the Blue and Gold threatened with a man on second and two outs, Babson junior Stephen Albano (Amherst, NH) would quell the uprising and end the game with a ground-out for his first career save.

In his fifth appearance, senior Jeff Browne (Voorhees, NJ) earned his first victory of the season in relief. Junior Phil Recco (Concord, MA) was dealt the loss for allowing the go-ahead runs to cross the plate in the fourth inning. Recco's mark drops to 0-1.

Creen was a homer shy of hitting for the cycle with a triple in the third inning and a double in his last at-bat. Sabacinski's two-run dinger in the ninth was his first collegiate home-run.

Worcester State will continue their season with two road games in the next week at Endicott (3:30 PM) and UMass Boston (3 PM) while the Beavers will play 2010 Co-LEC Regular Season Champion Keene State tomorrow at 3:30.