Baseball Rolls to 11-3 Win Over Anna Maria

Worcester, MA --- Junior Kurt Sabacinski (Worcester, MA/St. Peter-Marian) tallied a career-best four hits and scored three runs while freshman Cody Osburn (Fair Oaks, CA) drove in a trio of runs as they helped Worcester State earn the 11-3 triumph over Anna Maria in non-conference baseball action this afternoon at Rockwood Park.

With the win the Lancers improve to 7-18 while the AMCATS slip to 15-11. WSU is now 15-3 against their local rivals all-time.

Osburn helped get the scoring started in the bottom of the first when he plated Sabacinski for the early 1-0 advantage.

Anna Maria answered right back in the top of the second on a lead-off home run by senior Jeff Scafidi (Worcester, MA/Burncoat). The dinger to right center marked the 12th long ball of his career and Scafidi's second this season.

But Worcester State would take advantage of a miscue at first base and score five times in the bottom of the fourth with two outs. Sabacinski underscored the uprising with a two-run double before Osburn added a run producing safety that drove in a pair.

After freshman Jeff Bolio (Oxford, MA) crossed home on a wild pitch in the sixth for the 7-1 advantage, the Blue and Gold put up a crooked number with a four-run seventh.

Bolio added another run on a wild pitch, sophomore Joseph Carlier (Rockland, MA) notched his team-leading 12th RBI and then senior Jack Rafferty (Thompson, MA) scampered home on a perfectly executed double-steal.

Anna Maria, who stranded five on base in the games middle frames, finally broke the shutout streak by the bullpen when Scafidi hammered a two-run triple down the right field line.

But Lancer freshman Eric Perez (Springfield, MA) would finish the game retiring four of his last five batters to help seal the win for the hosts.

All told, Worcester State would use seven different hurlers in relief of first-year Jared Kuzio (Franklin, MA), who went the first three frames and permitted the lone homer to Scafidi as his only base-runner. Senior Kyle St. Thomas (Bridgewater, MA) picked up the win in relief for his first of the season and fourth of his career.

St. Thomas, third-year Joe Piscitelli (Oxford, MA), sophomore Derek Cole (Billerica, MA) and freshman Michael Ivas (Princeton, MA) all would toss an inning of scoreless relief for the Lancers.

Junior Kevin Wodatch (Wallingford, CT) was tagged with the setback for the AMCATs. Wodatch went 3 2/3 innings allowing six runs (one earned) on six hits to go with one walk and four punch outs.

Osburn, junior Nick Gezotis (Westfield, MA) and freshman David Ruggiero (Danvers, MA) all chipped in with two base-knocks apiece while Bolio scored three times.

Scafidi impressed with three opposite field shots as he was a single shy of the cycle in a 3-for-4 performance at the plate with a trio of RBIs. Junior Mike Gaurnieri (Wallingford, CT) was also 2-for-3 with a run scored for Anna Maria.

Only two of the games 11 runs were earned as the AMCATS could not shrug tying a season-high five miscues.

Both squads will return to their conference schedules this weekend. Worcester State heads to North Adams for a key 12 PM matchup against MCLA while Anna Maria entertains Norwich on Sunday at 12 PM at Wachusett High.