Baseball Staves Off Elimination With 14-0 Triumph Over Salem State

Westfield, MA --- Senior Bobby DeVito (Webster, MA) tossed a complete-game three-hitter and senior Nick Fluegge (Ware, MA) went 2-for-3 with two RBI's and a home run as second-seeded Worcester State defeated #4 Salem State this morning, 14-0, in the losers bracket game of the MASCAC Tournament semifinals.

The Lancers (23-13) will play the loser of the winners bracket game at approximately 3:30 PM between top-seed Westfield State and #3 Bridgewater State. Salem State sees its 2011 campaign end at 16-20.

The Blue and Gold shrugged off the rust by scoring seven times on six hits in the bottom of the first inning, taking advantage of an error in the infield.

Fluegge, junior Jack Rafferty (Thompson, CT), third-year Joe Eramo (Shirley, MA), senior Corey McDonald (Hudson, MA) all chipped in with RBIs while fourth-year Paul Rodriguez (San Antonio, TX) had a two-run single in the frame.

WSU added to their lead with a run in the second and two more in the third. Fluegge jacked out his 30th career home run with a solo shot in the second before McDonald and sophomore Nick Gezotis (Westfield, MA) each plated runs in the following inning.

In the sixth, Fluegge would draw a walk to start the inning and then sophomore Chris Creen (Worcester, MA/St. John's) would launch his first home run of the season to help give the Lancers the 12-0 advantage.

The Lancers tacked on two more runs in the seventh on a run producing single by sophomore Nick Bonofiglio (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) and a sacrifice fly by classmate Kurt Sabacinski (Worcester, MA/Holy Name).

DeVito (5-1) was sensational as he fanned six and allowing one walk in his second shutout of the season. In three out of the first five innings of the contest, DeVito would allow a base-runner, but the outstanding defense behind him would turn a season-high three double plays.

DeVito remains fourth on WSU's all-time strikeout list with 157 punch outs in 189 career innings. DeVito is now alone in second place in the record books with the second most wins boosting a career record of 17-3.

Sophomore Cory Collins (Winthrop, MA) shouldered his first setback for the Vikings as his record drops to 3-1 on the season. Salem State used four pitchers out of the bullpen as second-year Andrew Guido (Peabody, MA) retired six straight a scoreless eighth and ninth.

Senior Ryan Kane (Nahant, MA), freshman Kyle McElroy (Newburyport, MA) and junior Eric Junker (Rockport, MA) were the players who had the three hits for the Vikings.

11 of Worcester State's 13 base-knocks came off of singles.