Baseball Sweeps MASCAC Rival Bridgewater State, 4-3 and 2-0

Bridgewater, MA --- Behind a pair of solid pitching performances by Worcester State junior Ben Libuda (Auburn, MA) and freshman Kris Doyle (Millbury, MA), the Lancers defeated Bridgewater State, 4-3 in eight innings, and 2-0, this afternoon in MASCAC baseball action at Alumni Field.

In the wins, the Blue and Gold improve their mark to 15-13 overall and 7-3 in conference play while the Bears slip to 11-17 and 4-6 in league action.

Trailing by two runs entering the top of the fifth in the opener, Worcester State knotted up the game 3-3 with two men down.

As freshman Dan McGuill (E. Longmeadow, MA) stood on second, junior David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA) induced a single to the diving third baseman. However, the throw from third went wide of first and it permitted a run to score while Ruggiero moved up two bases on the play.

Freshman Adam Barry (Auburn, MA) finished off the rally with a run producing single to the pitcher.

As the contest headed for extra frames, Worcester State scored the go-ahead score and game-winning run in the top of the eighth.

Following an infield solo base-knock by junior Cody Osburn (Sacramento, CA) and a sacrifice, sophomore Steve Wallace (Auburn, MA) sliced a bloop single to the to the right fielder and Osburn to scampered home on the play.

Bridgewater State got something going in the bottom of the eighth when sophomore Colin Ryan (Quincy, MA) singled, but Libuda spun a double play and induced a ground out end the contest.

WSU started off the contest when McGuill drove in freshman Jake Ryan (Whitinsville, MA) for the early 1-0 margin in the top of the fifth.

Bridgewater State responded in the bottom of the third when they strung together four consecutive hits taking over the 3-1 advantage.

Junior Nicholas White (Bellingham, MA) hammered out a two-run double to score sophomore Jacob Souza (Acushnet, MA) and Ryan before White came around to score on an RBI single into the gap in right center by junior Ryan Manning (Plainville, MA).

After giving up three earned runs and four solo safeties over his first three innings of work, Libuda (3-2) settled down and shut down the Bears offense by tossing five scoreless frames of one-hit baseball.

Libuda also issued two walks, hit one batter and struck out a pair of batters while using just 97 pitches to finish off his fifth complete game of the campaign.

BSU senior Andy Sadoski (Harwich, MA) was equally as effective over his eight stanzas, finishing the game with 90 pitches in his MASCAC leading seventh complete game of the season. Sadoski (4-4) he yielded four runs (two earned) to go with eight hits, one free pass and one punch out.

WSU ended the game with the 8-6 edge in base-knocks as all seven runs for both squads were scored with two men down.

Osburn, Barry and Wallace all chipped in with two base-knocks each for the Lancers while Ryan and Manning both added two hits apiece for the Bears.

Doyle (4-3) was dominant in the nightcap as he tossed a two-hitter on 77 pitches, giving up one walk in his first collegiate shutout. Doyle also finished with one strikeout.

After junior Zach George (Attleboro, MA) jump started the Lancers with a lead-off single to start off the game, he swiped second and moved to third on a passed ball. Ruggiero then drove George in on a deep fly to left to put the visitors up 1-0.

Worcester State scored again in the top of the fourth when Ryan plated junior Jeff Bolio (Oxford, MA) from second base. Bolio led off the frame with a walk and he inched into scoring position on a sacrifice.

The Bears had a great opportunity in the bottom of the fifth to break into the scoring column when senior Shane Varnadore (Brockton, MA) and junior Sean Brooks (Braintree, MA) rapped back-to-back base-knocks to break up Doyle's no-hit bid. But Doyle set down the final batter of the frame on a ground out to retire the side and end the threat.

Doyle hurled two perfect innings in the sixth and seventh frames to complete his second contest of the campaign and help boost the Lancers into second place in the MASCAC standings.

Holmes (1-4) shouldered the setback for the Bears in the second game. Holmes, who went the distance for the second time this season on 90 pitches, gave up two earned runs, six hits to go with two punch outs and one walk.

There were no multi-hitters for either side and no extra-base safeties while the Blue and Gold held the 6-2 lead in base-knocks.

The entire twin bill was over in less than for hours with the first game lasting one hour and 40 minutes and the finale taking 80 minutes.

Both squads resume their respective conference schedules after the Easter holiday in 1 PM matchups on Monday. Worcester State entertains Framingham State while Bridgewater State makes the trek to Fitchburg State.

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