Baseball Takes Two from MCLA In MASCAC Twinbill

Worcester, MA --- Behind a pair of solid pitching performances by senior Chad Kasik (Dudley, MA) and sophomore Nick Bonofiglio (Worcester, MA/Holy Name), Worcester State swept MCLA this afternoon, 4-2 and 6-0, in MASCAC baseball action.

Bonofiglio posted a two-hitter in the second game as he would finish with four strikeouts.

With the wins the Lancers improve to 15-9 overall and 3-3 in league play while the Trailblazers slip to 8-14 overall and 1-5 in the MASCAC.

MCLA opened the game with the 1-0 advantage on an RBI single by senior Osiris Mendez (Queens, NY).

But Worcester State would have other plans as they put up a crooked number in the third to take the lead for good.

Sophomore Adam Metzger (Northampton, MA) and senior Corey McDonald (Hudson, MA) each had RBIs in the inning as McDonald, who reached on a double, came around to score on an errant throw in the infield with two men down.

The Trailblazers threatened and made the score 3-2 on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Joe Duncan (Dalton, MA) after senior Mike Meaney (North Adams, MA) led off the frame with a triple.

Sophomore Nick Gezotis (Westfield, MA) would help Worcester State add some insurance as he drove in Metzger with a sac-fly. With one out, Metzger had a double and then swiped third to move into scoring position.

Kasik (4-2) nearly went the distance as he went six 2/3 innings yielding two runs while scattering seven hits. He would finish with one walk and five strikeouts as he hit a pair of batters.

Kasik allowed a hit in every frame until the fifth when he would retire eight straight into the seventh. His one free pass occurred in the inning with two outs and then he departed the game after delivering a wild pitch.

Sophomore closer Shaun Slattery (Gardner, MA) was inserted into the game and yielded a single to put runners on the corners, but he would finish the game by fanning Mendez – the clean-up hitter – to end the contest. Slattery, who notched his fifth save of the season, now has 29 punch-outs in 19 innings.

Junior Daniel Gaines (Holyoke, MA) pitched six full innings for the visitors. Gaines allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits as he struck out four and walked no one.

Metzger was 2-for-2 in the number nine slot with two runs scored for WSU while senior John Ripepi (Amsterdam, NY) and senior Joe Parillo (W. Springfield, MA) both tacked on two hits for MCLA.

Bonofiglio (3-0) dominated in the nightcap for the Lancers. He would set down his first eight batters before giving up a single to right center in the third. The other base-knock that he allowed was a double in the sixth to Mendez.

Worcester State put up the 3-0 lead after two innings of play as they were highlighted by a two-run single by Gezotis in the second.

The Lancers built up their advantage to 5-0 on an RBI double by Gezotis and then he eventually came home on a dropped fly in the outfield.

The final run was scored in the sixth on a solo homer to center field by senior Nick Fluegge (Ware, MA).

Fourth-year Sean Hermance (Elizaville, NY) shouldered the loss for MCLA in the complete-game effort. Hermance (2-5) allowed six runs (three earned) on seven hits to go along with one walk and four strikeouts.

Gezotis finished driving in four for WSU as he was the only multi-hitter in the second game for both teams with two base-knocks.

With a four-way tie atop the MASCAC standings for second place with Framingham State, Bridgewater State and Mass Maritime, this week's conference double-headers are important for the Lancers if they wish to stay in the playoff hunt.  

Worcester State will take on the Rams on Monday at 1 PM before they head Alumni Field, in Bridgewater, MA on Friday at two o'clock.

MCLA's next opponent will be Bridgewater State on Monday at 1.