Ruggiero, Osburn Pace Baseball In Sweep Of Mass Maritime

Buzzards Bay, MA --- Junior David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA) rapped out five hits and drove in four runs to lead Worcester State to a sweep of a MASCAC baseball doubleheader from Massachusetts Maritime by scores of 4-2 in the opener and 5-4 in the nightcap this afternoon at Commodore Hendy Field.

The visiting Lancers (9-10, 4-0 MASCAC) overcame a 2-0 deficit in the opener by rallying for three runs with two outs in the top of the fifth, as a two-strike RBI single by sophomore Dennis Duplessis (Marlboro, MA) was followed by a two-run triple from Ruggiero, who drove in his third run of the day with an RBI single in the seventh to close out the scoring. 

Duplessis and Ruggiero combined for four of Worcester State's six hits in the opener in support of junior Ben Libuda (Auburn, MA), who went the distance on the mound for the visitors in scattering three hits and allowing one earned run while fanning six to improve to 2-1 on the season. 

The hosting Buccaneers (7-7, 0-2 MASCAC) had taken that early two-run advantage after senior Brendan O'Kane (Pocasset, MA) led off the first with a double and scored on a groundout by junior Bobby Rosano (N. Reading, MA) while senior Bob Lee (Braintree, MA) led off the fourth with an infield single and later scored on a throwing error. 

Lee collected two of Massachusetts Maritime's three hits in the opening setback, as junior TJ Notarangelo (Foxboro, MA) allowed three runs and struck out five over the first 4 2/3 innings on the mound to fall to 0-2 on the spring.

The Lancers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in their first at-bat of the second contest on a two-run single by junior Cody Osburn (Sacramento, CA), but the Buccaneers plated single runs in the first on an RBI single by freshman Aidan Desrosiers (N. Attleboro, MA) and a fielder's choice groundout by senior Matt Pelletier (Bradford, MA) in the second to even matters. 

Worcester State took a 4-2 cushion in the top of the third on a RBI groundout by freshman Adam Barry (Auburn, MA) and a run-scoring triple off the bat of junior Zach George (Attleboro, MA), but Massachusetts Maritime sliced that margin in half in the bottom of the frame when Lee walked and later scored on a wild pitch. 

Ruggiero's RBI single plated what proved to be the winning run in the fourth for the Lancers, as the Buccaneers rallied with two outs in the seventh to close the gap back to a run when junior William Cooksey (Richmond, TX) walked with the bases loaded.  The hosts had the tying and winning runs in scoring position, but junior Joe Perlak (Chicopee, MA) came out of the Worcester State bullpen to induce a game-ending groundout and complete the sweep.

Osburn went 4-for-4 to lead a 13-hit attack in the nightcap triumph for the Lancers, who also received three hits from Ruggiero and a pair of hits from Barry. Junior Kris Doyle (Millbury, MA) scattered six hits and worked around seven walks to earn his third win in five decisions on the mound for Worcester State, as Perlak picked up his first save in recording the final out. 

Desrosiers and sophomore Everett Walsh (Marstons Mills, MA) each rapped out two hits in the nightcap setback for Massachusetts Maritime, as sophomore Kevin Kwedor (Marshfield, MA) fanned four over the first five innings of play to fall to 1-1 on the season.

Worcester State will play Brandeis in a non-league outing on Tuesday afternoon while the Buccaneers host Westfield State in a MASCAC doubleheader tomorrow at 12 PM.

Full Release Courtesy of Mass Maritime Sports Information

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