Baseball Sweeps MCLA For First Wins In MASCAC Play

North Adams, MA --- Behind a pair of dominant pitching performances by junior teammates Nick Bonofiglio (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) and Alex Teal (Malden, MA), Worcester State defeated MCLA, 3-1 and 9-2, in MASCAC baseball action this afternoon.

The Trailblazers (11-15, 2-4 MASCAC) led for a majority of game one as starter Ross Miner held the Lancers at bay through four innings. MCLA went up 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning off Bonofiglio.

Junior Joe Duncan (Dalton, MA) doubled to right center and then after stealing third and he would score on a first-year Rory Slattery (Pittsfield, MA) sacrifice fly.

The Lancers (8-18, 2-4 MASCAC) would take a 2-1 lead in the fifth.

With runners on first and second and two out,  junior Kurt Sabacinski (Worcester, MA/St. Peter Marian) singled to right plating second-year JD Salinas (Fredericksburg, TX) to knot the game. Sophomore Joseph Carlier (Rockland, MA) then would followed with an RBI single.

Worcester State added an insurance run in the sixth in the form of second-year Cory Loomer (Shrewsbury, MA), aided by two MCLA errors in the inning.

After yielding a run in the third, Bonofiglio (3-3) set down 11 of his last 14 men in his last four innings of work. He would finish fanning eight while going the distance as he scattered five hits, allowed one earned run and a free pass.

Sophomore Ross Miner (Greenfield, MA) shouldered the setback for the hosts in the complete game effort. Miner (3-3) allowed three unearned runs, one walk and he struck out one.

Sabacinski was the lone multi-hitter for the Lancers going 2-for-4 as second-year Sean Coyle (Middleboro, MA) and frseshman Chase Preite (North Adams, MA) both tallied two base-knocks each.

In game two, Worcester State scored in each of the first three frames to build a 6-1 lead early. 

Up 1-0 in the top of the second, freshman Zachary George (Attleboro, MA) singled with one out, stole second and advanced to third on a fielders' choice by Salinas. George scored on a wild pitch and Salinas went all the way to third on the play. Salinas would later score on an RBI single by junior Nick Gezotis (Westfield, MA) and Worcester would push one more across in the frame.

The Trailblazers had a chance to climb right back into the game when they loaded the bases in the second. After Teal walked second-year Derek Lescarbeau (Pittsfield, MA) to force in a run, the right-hander would buckle down and he would ring up his last two batters swinging to end the threat.

The Lancers would put the game away with RBI singles by Salinas and freshman Jeff Bolio (Oxford, MA) in the sixth and a plated run by first-year David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA) in the seventh.

MCLA touched Teal up for run in the fourth on an RBI triple by Weaver, but he would strike out the side in that frame and retire five of his last six - including a pick-off in the sixth.

Teal improved his record to 3-4 as he finished allowing two runs (one earned), 10 strikeouts and three walks in six innings of work. Junior Joe Piscitelli (Oxford, MA) tossed a scoreless seventh with one strikeout.

Senior Daniel Gaines (Holyoke, MA) was tagged with the setback. Gaines (3-3) tossed 5 1/3 innigns permitting eight hits, eight runs (five earned), he struckout one and did not issue a walk.

Gezotis, Bolio, and Ruggerio all chipped in with two safties apiece while Gezotis and Salinas both crossed home plate twice. Weaver was 2-for-3 for MCLA.

Both squads will play again on Patriots Day. Worcester State entertains Framingham State at 12 PM while the Trailblazers travel to Bridgewater State at 1.

Worcester will host Framinham State Monday at noon and MCLA will travel to Bridgewater Monday at 1:00 PM.

Some Portions of Release Courtesy of MCLA Sports Information