Baseball, Mass Maritime Split In MASCAC Finale

MASCAC Baseball Tournament Bracket

Worcester, MA --- Mass Maritime freshman Matt Pelletier (Bradford, MA) went 2-for-3 with two RBIs in a 5-2 triumph while Worcester State senior Nick Fluegge (Ware, MA) jacked a three-run homer in a 7-5 victory as the Buccaneers and the Lancers drew a split this afternoon in the final weekend of MASCAC baseball at Tivnan Field.

With the win and the loss, Worcester State is now 22-11 overall and 8-5 in conference play while MMA ends their season at 11-15 and 5-8 in the eight-team loop.

With an overall mark of 9-5 in MASCAC play, the Lancers have cliniched the number two seed in the upcoming MASCAC Tournament and will play third-seeded Bridgewater State at 7 PM at Tivnan Field.

Senior Nick Levitre (Grafton, MA) made quick work of the Lancers as he allowed two earned runs in five innings of work. Levitre (2-2) retired nine of his first ten men before he was touched up in the fourth and fifth frames. He would fan six, allow four hits and issue three walks.

Mass Maritime opened the games scoring with the 1-0 lead in the top of the second when sophomore Aram Mulhern (Taunton, MA) crossed home plate on a mishandled bunt by the pitcher, after he reached on a double.

The Buccaneers seized momentum when they plated four runs in the fourth for the 5-0 advantage. The visitors were highlighted by a two-run producing single by Pelletier and a bases-loaded RBI walk by senior Greg Wiggin (Marshfield, MA).

The walk to Wiggin brought senior Bobby DeVito (Webster, MA) into the game. After DeVito issued a free pass to juice the bases, he would induce a double-play to get out of the jam.

The Lancers would then answer the call and score a run on an RBI double by senior Paul Rodriguez (San Antonio, TX) in the fourth and one more time on a bases-loaded RBI walk by Fluegge in the fifth. However, with two outs, Rodriguez would end the rally as Levitre struck him out to end the fifth.

DeVito was brilliant as he would hurl three scoreless innings of two-hit relief. He would punch-out eight batters- including the last six that he would see in the game – to climb to fourth-place on WSU's all-time strikeout list. In his four-year career DeVito has fanned 151 in 180 innings.

But DeVito was matched by junior Jared Lowe (Brimfield, MA) who would pitch two scoreless frames in the sixth and the seventh to close out the game for his first career stop. Lowe would strike out two, give up two hits and issue one walk.

Sophomore Nick Bonofiglio (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) was tagged with the setback for WSU. Bonofiglio gave up four runs (four earned) on five hits to go along with four strikeouts and three walks.

Mass Maritime out hit the Lancers, 7-6, as Pelletier and Mulhern both added two for the visitors. There were no multi-hitters for Worcester State.

In the nightcap, the Buccaneers started out strong with a trio of runs in the top of the third. After starter Chad Kasik (Dudley, MA) fanned the lead-off man, Pelletier, Wiggin and senior Andrew Saari (Framingham, MA) reached on consecutive singles. Pelletier would score on a wild pitch before senior Corey Murphy (E. Wareham, MA) knocked in Wiggin and Saari with a two-run single.

But the Blue and Gold would promptly answer on Fluegge's three-run home run with two outs. It was the eighth of the season for Fluegge has he now has 29 while wearing a WSU uniform.

After a scoreless top of the fourth, the Lancers would score two runs for the 5-3 lead on a two-run double by sophomore Nick Gezotis (Westfield, MA) with two men down.

Two key insurance runs would cross the plate in the bottom of the sixth as Worcester State took advantage of an overthrown ball by the third baseman and a wild throw back into the infield from the first-baseman.

Kasik, who would throw 130 pitches, ran into trouble in the top of the seventh. Wiggin led off the frame with a bunt single and move into scoring position on a failed pick-off and a ground-out. Senior Michael Vargas (Framingham, MA) plated Wiggen with a double and then he would come around to score on a two-base knock by Levitre.

Sophomore Shaun Slattery (Gardner, MA) would be summoned and he would get the final two outs to record his school-record ninth save of the season.

Kasik (5-2) allow five earned runs while scattering 11 hits in six 1/3 innings of work. He would fan 10 and allow a pair of walks. Kasik also now one of two Worcester State pitchers to have 10 career wins in 100 innings pitched and accomplish the feat in two seasons.

Freshman Keith Sanchez (Monroe Township, NJ) was saddled with the setback as he yielded five earned runs on five hits to go along with four walks and four strikeouts in three 2/3 innings. Sanchez finishes his season at 1-3.

Mass Maritime actually out-hit Worcester State 11-7 as Wiggin led the way with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate. Saari and Levitre both tallied two hits apiece while Gezotis and senior Corey McDonald (Hudson, MA) were both 2-for-3 for WSU.

In a brief tune-up for the MASCAC Tournament, Worcester State will play MIT tomorrow on "Senior Day" at Tivnan Field at 1 PM.